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WILKES-BARRE — If the rumors and social media reports are true, local television will be missing a few familiar faces before long.
According to sources and various Internet sites, Tribune Media Co. has offered “voluntary buyouts” to a “small percentage of employees” across its station group.
Gary Weitman, spokesman for Tribune Media Co., responded to inquiries via email:
“We are always looking to operate as efficiently as possible and improvements in technology have enabled our TV stations to automate more than ever. We are engaged in offering voluntary buy-outs to a small percentage of employees across our station group. As I’m sure you understand, for reasons of privacy, we can’t comment on individual employees who may or may not have been offered a voluntary buyout.”
The unconfirmed reports state longtime WNEP personalities Marisa Burke and Tom Clark have accepted buyouts from the parent company.
Burke, who has been at WNEP since 1984 and has been a news anchor for years, and Clark, a 30-year employee and the station’s chief meteorologist, were not at work Friday and were not expected to return until Monday.
Internet reports indicate both Burke and Clark will leave the station around Thanksgiving.
