Cleveland, Ohio – Long-term WEWS Channel 5 meteorologist Mark Johnson returns to the airwaves – at least not in Cleveland yet.
Johnson is hired by WKYC's parent company Tegna to provide weather forecasts to its network of 64 TV stations nationwide.
“We are delighted to welcome Mark Johnson to Tegna, who will support weather forecasting and broadcasting at multiple sites,” a company spokesperson said in a statement. “He is an industry veteran and we believe his unparalleled weather forecasting and reporting experience will be an asset to our team.”
In an industry where non-competitive terms are common, Johnson's new role does not include WKYC's live role. Still, it's not surprising if Kent State graduates eventually land on the local NBC branch.
A message sent to WKYC general manager was not returned. A Tegna spokesman said the company did not comment on the specific terms of its contract.
Johnson's recruiting role comes two and a half months after he suddenly left WEWS, where he served as chief meteorologist for thirty years. The station did not provide a specific reason for his departure. Instead, it describes the situation as a “personnel matter” and suggests that his actions may not meet the “highest ethical standards” of the station and its parent company.
His agent Dan Levin responded at the time: “Mark is a model professional who is considered an inappropriate behavior.”
During the airing time, Johnson brought his fans into it by sharing the latest news on social media, posting sunsets, family time and his gardening projects.
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