Meet the media
BBC NI journalist, weatherman and presenter Barra Best discusses his career to date and the benefits of actively engaging with your audience on social media.
How did you get started in journalism?
I was always interested in journalism, having dabbled in community radio when I was younger. It was some years later when I was working in the technology sector that a phone call from a friend made me realise that I wanted to change career and become a journalist. After finishing a Postgraduate Diploma I got my first break in Belfast Citybeat before moving to the BBC Northern Ireland newsroom, where I’ve been for more than nine years.
Was being a weatherman something you always wanted to do?
We all talk about the weather, so when I had the chance to cut my teeth in live television by presenting it I took it. Still to this day I maintain that it’s the most difficult job I’ve ever had to come up to speed with – up to two minutes, sometimes more, of live radio and television without a script, getting used to a new graphics system, and the pressure to get it right (pun intended). It is, however, the most enjoyable job I’ve ever had and one that I look forward to every day.
Who do you admire most within your profession and why?
The people I work with and our fantastic audience. I count myself lucky to work with a lot of colleagues within BBC Northern Ireland that I also call friends. There is a lot of support available when you need it, it’s a real team effort and I genuinely think that comes across in the work we do. I love the fast pace of my profession – there’s rarely a dull moment, the days fly by, and no two days are the same.
Describe your typical working day?
My days vary greatly and can start from as early as 4:30am to as late as 3pm. Generally on the weather shifts it’s a case of coming up to speed with the latest weather story through data and charts, ensuring our television graphics match the story, and then preparing for broadcast on both BBC Radio Ulster and BBC Newsline. There’s a lot to pack in so time management is very important. As well as television and radio we also provide forecasts and weather news stories for BBC News NI Online. When I’m working on television programmes – Walk the Line and Weather Watchers – the days can often last for 12 hours, travelling all over the country, interviewing guests and filming. The days are long but it’s great to get out and meet people.
Having presented a TV show, worked as a broadcast journalist and as a weatherman what are the challenges associated with each role and what is it about each role that you most enjoy?
They say that variety is the spice of life and I couldn’t agree more. They are all very different but I’m able to transfer skills between all three.
There is a lot to pack in to TV so, quite often, we have to do a lot in a short space of time. The long days can be tiring but the satisfaction of watching a series coming together is fantastic. There is a great team of people I work with on each series – producers, camera operators, sound technicians, editors, and guests. It’s working with these people that makes it so enjoyable. Then there’s the audience who are fantastic. Social media really comes alive when the programmes are on. People get in touch to say what they think, to have some banter, and to contribute their stories – some of which we were able to use in the second series of Walk the Line.
Journalism is what I’ve been doing for 10 years and it’s still very much what I love. The fast paced environment, the range of stories, the people I work with and the people I interview all make this job the best I’ve ever had. There are, of course, challenges. These can include meeting tight deadlines and sourcing guests at the last minute when a breaking story comes up, but that’s the nature of news and when it all comes together there’s a great level of satisfaction. I’m also able to use my weather background to cover weather stories when they happen, whether it’s flooding, snow, or coastal erosion. It’s the skills from both that I’m able to bring together to illustrate that story.
Presenting the weather is a joy. It can, at times, be the most challenging job I do, especially when inclement weather arrives. People rely heavily on weather forecasts during that time – will they get snowed in, are they at risk of flooding, or do they need their shades, suncream and a hat for the days we get a heatwave, as rare as they may be. So, there’s a lot of pressure to be as accurate as possible but unfortunately our weather often has a mind of its own and sometimes subtle changes can be enough to draw some criticism. Of course, the audience is also quick to heap praise when the weather’s good – especially during the summer months when we get a dry and warm spell. So, we have to take the good with the bad.
How important do you think it is to actively engage with your viewers on social media?
Very! Social media is a two-way street. The audience don’t just want to be fed news and weather, they want to interact. It can be a simple case of retweeting a weather video or photograph or answering a bride about the weather on her big day. In my experience there’s a lot of gratitude from our audience when we respond. It can take a lot of time and effort but it’s worth it.
Also we are always grateful when viewers provide us with pictures and stories about their local weather as this is invaluable for illustrating the weather of the day, especially when it takes a turn for the worst. Viewer photos and videos can show us just how bad it is.
How do you spend your free time?
I love to travel – it’s one of my main passions in life and can be as simple as a weekend down the coast. Experiencing new cultures, food, and even the weather is exhilarating. Friends and family also take up a lot of my time, from going to the theatre to having dinner and a few drinks to unwind at the weekend. I’m a big natural history fan so love to sit down and watch programmes like The Hunt and Africa while listening to David Attenborough’s dulcet tones. I also wouldn’t miss local BBC drama The Fall as it’s so exciting to see a series like that filmed in the city I grew up in!
