Tour of Channel 9 includes place David Payne goes to unwind

OIDJ's tour of the channel 9 news station gave young journalists a preview of what their careers in broadcast could potentially look like. But more importantly, it provided insight into the mind of Oklahoma's chief meteorologist, David Payne.

At the beginning of the day, OIDJ students watch from behind the scenes as the entire meteorology team-Payne included-said their final farewell to a friend from the weather team.

"Before she got here, I felt our news team was missing something," said Payne in his emotional goodbye. "But then Lacey Swope in and made us a great weather team!"

According to the tour guide, this appearance on the broadcast was a rare moment where Payne was not in his special place. This was revealed part-way through the walking tour of the station.

"This is where our reporters write their stories and decide what order they will appear in," said our guide, smiling a professional news writer whose kids kept him up all night last night. "This is the news desk, where all the hot tips for breaking news come in," she added, indicating a man mostly shielded by a desk who may or may not have been playing with a fidget spinner. "And this here," she said, indicating the above. "Is where David comes to unwind after a hard day's work."

"It's the only place I feel safe. It's the only place any of us are safe! Get under ground!" screamed Payne as he dove head first into his steel sanctuary.

Given Oklahoma's tornadic tendencies, the job of a meteorologist can be quite taxing. Luckily for weather prophet, Payne, the station has provided him a safe space where he can feel completely protected while he summons his storm visions.

"My job can be really difficult," Payne said. "They just don't listen to me. It's like they want to die in a tornado! I'm so glad that the station provided a steel bunker bolted securely to six feet of concrete upon my 48th request. I don't know if I could get through the day without my bunker time."