James Spann
Credentials
- AMS Certified, and Certified Broadcast Meteorologist.1“James Spann Bio,” JamesSpann.com, July 7, 2008.
Background
James Spann is a television meteorologist based in Birmingham, Alabama. He is currently the chief meteorologist for ABC 33/40.2“James Spann,” Abc3340. Accessed February 17, 2012.
Earlly in his career, spann studied electrical engineering at UA while paying for his tuition while working in radio. He worked for a variety of radio stations as a news anchor and weatherman such as WSFA/Channel 12 in Montgomery, Channel 13/WAPI in Birmingham, KDFW/Channel 4 in Dallas, and WBRC/Channel is in Birmingham. He earned his certificate in broadcast meteorology from Mississippi State University through distance learning. In 1996 Spann joined ABC 33/40 in Birmingham where he has worked for more than 22 years.3“The James Spann you never knew,” AL.com, July 2, 2019. Archived November 27, 2019. Archive.fo URL:https://archive.ph/451sT
Spann runs his own private consulting firm, The Weather Company, which provides weather programming to numerous radio stations.
Spann was also the chairman of the Christian radio station Reality Radio, which once operated on Birmingham FM as WRRS-FM “Reality 101” and later became the parent organization for AllWorship.com.
Stance on Climate Change
2007
James Spann was featured on Glenn Beck, where he declared:
“Earth’s climate has changed since the day God put it here. We have had these cyclical changes, and I believe that most of this is purely natural.”4“James Spann on Glenn Beck,” YouTube Video. Uploaded by IntronFilm, January 22, 2007.
Key Quotes
“I do not know of a single TV meteorologist who buys into the man-made global warming hype. I know there must be a few out there, but I can’t find them.”
“The climate of this planet has been changing since God put the planet here. It will always change, and the warming in the last 10 years is not much difference than the warming we saw in the 1930s and other decades. And, lets not forget we are at the end of the ice age in which ice covered most of North America and Northern Europe.”5“Ams Certified Weatherman Strikes Back at Weather Channel Call for Decertification,” U.S. Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works, January 19, 2007.
Key Deeds
January 2010
Spann was a signatory to the Cornwall Alliance for the Stewardship of Creation’s “An Evangelical Declaration on Global Warming.” He is listed among “scientists and medical doctors” signatories.6“Prominent Signers of An Evangelical Declaration on Global Warming,” Cornwall Alliance For the Stewardship of Creation, January 14, 2010. Archived October 4, 2011. Archive URL:
Those who sign the declaration must agree with this statement: “We deny that carbon dioxide—essential to all plant growth—is a pollutant. Reducing greenhouse gases cannot achieve significant reductions in future global temperatures, and the costs of the policies would far exceed the benefits.”
January 18, 2007
Spann wrote an opinion piece on his weather blog, titled ‘”The Weather Channel’ Mess” where he responded to comments made by Dr Heidi Cullen on The Weather Channel’s website.7James Spann. “‘The Weather Channel’ Mess,” JamesSpann.com, January 18, 2007. Archived with WebCite February 17, 2012.
Cullen had written that “If a meteorologist can’t speak to the fundamental science of climate change, then maybe the AMS shouldn’t give them a Seal of Approval.”
Responding to Cullen, Spann said “I know dozens and dozens of broadcast meteorologists all over the country… . I do not know of a single TV meteorologist who buys into the man-made global warming hype” (.doc). 8“Spann spawns cyber storm Birmingham News 1-20-07,” Retrieved February, 2012, from DrUnfried.wikispaces.com.
His blog post was picked up and spread by The Drudge Report, and further promoted by Marc Morano at the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works.9Marc Morano. “AMS CERTIFIED WEATHERMAN STRIKES BACK AT WEATHER CHANNEL CALL FOR DECERTIFICATION,” U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (Blogs), January 19, 2007.
Spann appeared on FOX News’s Hannity & Colmes program, and on CNN’s Glenn Beck program to explain his position. Senator James Inhofe also spoke in defense of Spann’s position.10James Spann. “An Interesting Day In The Office,” Alabamawx.com, January 19, 2007. 11“James Spann on Glenn Beck,” YouTube Video. Uploaded by IntronFilm, January 22, 2007. 12“James Spann vs. Hedi Cullem & Global Warming,” YouTube Video. Uploaded by user t3chmn, January 23, 2007.
Affiliations
- ABC 33/40 — Chief Meteorologist.
- Cornwall Alliance for the Stewardship of Creation — Signatory to “An Evangelical Declaration on Global Warming.”13“Prominent Signers of An Evangelical Declaration on Global Warming,” Cornwall Alliance For the Stewardship of Creation, January 14, 2010. Archived October 4, 2011. Archive URL:
Social Media
- James Spann on Facebook
- @spann on Twitter
Publications
According to a search of Google Scholar, James Spann has not published any articles in peer reviewed journals.
Sample Publications
- “The Weather Channel Mess,” ABC 33/40 Weather Blog, January 18, 2007.
Other Resources
Resources
- 1“James Spann Bio,” JamesSpann.com, July 7, 2008.
- 2“James Spann,” Abc3340. Accessed February 17, 2012.
- 3“The James Spann you never knew,” AL.com, July 2, 2019. Archived November 27, 2019. Archive.fo URL:https://archive.ph/451sT
- 4“James Spann on Glenn Beck,” YouTube Video. Uploaded by IntronFilm, January 22, 2007.
- 5“Ams Certified Weatherman Strikes Back at Weather Channel Call for Decertification,” U.S. Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works, January 19, 2007.
- 6“Prominent Signers of An Evangelical Declaration on Global Warming,” Cornwall Alliance For the Stewardship of Creation, January 14, 2010. Archived October 4, 2011. Archive URL:
- 7James Spann. “‘The Weather Channel’ Mess,” JamesSpann.com, January 18, 2007. Archived with WebCite February 17, 2012.
- 8“Spann spawns cyber storm Birmingham News 1-20-07,” Retrieved February, 2012, from DrUnfried.wikispaces.com.
- 9Marc Morano. “AMS CERTIFIED WEATHERMAN STRIKES BACK AT WEATHER CHANNEL CALL FOR DECERTIFICATION,” U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (Blogs), January 19, 2007.
- 10James Spann. “An Interesting Day In The Office,” Alabamawx.com, January 19, 2007.
- 11“James Spann on Glenn Beck,” YouTube Video. Uploaded by IntronFilm, January 22, 2007.
- 12“James Spann vs. Hedi Cullem & Global Warming,” YouTube Video. Uploaded by user t3chmn, January 23, 2007.
- 13“Prominent Signers of An Evangelical Declaration on Global Warming,” Cornwall Alliance For the Stewardship of Creation, January 14, 2010. Archived October 4, 2011. Archive URL:
