Overview

• On July 28, KTTC Chief Meteorologist Nick Jansen paused his live severe-storm report in Rochester to text his wife and infant before apologizing on air
• The video clip has been viewed millions of times and drawn only one formal complaint amid an outpouring of public commendation for his family-first action
• In a Facebook post, Jansen framed the interruption as “me being human,” emphasizing that he is “a husband and a father FIRST”
• KTTC vice president Stephanie Hendrick backed Jansen’s choice, noting that station meteorologists routinely check on their own families under severe weather alerts
• Major outlets including TODAY.com and People.com have highlighted the episode as a case study of tensions between journalistic norms and personal duty during emergencies