Trib Total Media TV writer Rob Owen answers reader questions at TribLive.com in a column that also appears in the Sunday Tribune-Review.
Q: It seems like three or more weeks that Mike Clark hasn’t been on WTAE-TV’s evening news. Andrew Stockey keeps saying he’s in for him, but something seems fishy. Any idea why he’s been off?
— Nancy via Facebook
Rob: Nancy’s question arrived in late March – the same query came in from other viewers as well — and I left multiple messages for WTAE news director Jim Parsons and general manager Charles Wolfertz. They did not respond.
On Sunday’s evening newscast the station announced Clark has been battling covid-19 since mid-March. The station reported Clark was never hospitalized but felt ill for several weeks.
Clark posted to his Facebook page, writing in part, “While I am lucky and blessed to have made a full recovery, I have to admit, fear and concern was part of my journey. This virus is so random in how it attacks your system. People far younger and with fewer medical complications than I experienced have suffered greatly, and tragically have died. I hope my experience will bring more empathy and compassion to our sharing your journey through COVID and beyond.”
Clark is expected to return to Channel 4’s 5 p.m. newscast on Monday.
