Photos: Screenshot Facebook Nick Jansen KTTC
Nick Jansen, a meteorologist from KTTC News, faced heavy criticism on social media after a video went viral showing him sending a message to his wife during the coverage of a severe storm in Minnesota.
Jansen responded to the criticism on his Facebook profile with a clip showing him using his cellphone during the program. He mentioned that he received an email calling it “unprofessional.”
“The sentence that hit me the hardest was: ‘Does he need to call his wife to make sure she takes the baby to a safe place? Maybe some people find that noble or sweet. I don’t,'” the meteorologist shared.
On July 28, Jansen stayed live for three hours reporting on the intense storms. He grabbed his phone to check if his wife and their six-month-old child were safe.
“Sorry, I just needed to send a message to my wife, the baby was sleeping well today, but that’s over now,” the reporter said, resuming his weather report.
+Watch the moment Jansen uses his phone
Photos: Screenshot Facebook Nick Jansen KTTC
The chief meteorologist estimated that winds in the area could reach between 64 and 113 km/h. He defended his actions, saying he used a brief moment off-air to check on his family’s situation.
“I take my job and public safety very seriously. But I am also a husband and father,” he responded to a viewer.
“I’m sure many viewers were also sending messages to their families,” he added.
KTTC’s management praised the meteorologist for thinking about his family without neglecting to inform the public about the imminent danger.
“We know that when our meteorologists, anchors, and reporters are on air, they are also talking to their own families, advising them, and helping keep them safe,” the station said.
Photos: Facebook Nick Jansen KTTC. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
