Chris Clark (real name Chris Botsaris) was the lead news anchor at WTVF (NewsChannel5) in Nashville, Tennessee. He had been a consistent anchor at the station since 1966, but retired on May 23, 2007 after 41 years, making him one of the longest-tenured anchors in American television history. In the earlier years of his tenure, Clark also served as the News Director. [1]
A native of Atlanta, Georgia, he has a degree from the University of Georgia School of Journalism. He was a member of Alpha Tau Omega. Prior to arriving at what was then WLAC-TV, he worked for WALB-TV in Albany, Georgia.
Among the countries documented in his reporting: Somalia, Great Britain, the Soviet Union, Israel, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic.
He also was involved in a crisis situation when Tennessee Governor Buford Ellington called him in to mediate the release of hostages held by an inmate at the state penitentiary.
During his time as news director at WTVF, he was a part of the station's conversion from film to electronic news coverage. Shortly before his retirement the station became the first in the Nashville market to broadcast in High Definition.
As chair of the Society of Professional Journalists Freedom of Information Committee, Chris played a role in convincing the Tennessee Supreme Court to allow an experiment with cameras in the court. That experiment persuaded the justices to allow cameras in state courts.
He is currently a teacher at Middle Tennessee State University in the Mass Communications Department.
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Clark won the 1993 Emmy from the Middle Tennessee chapter of NATAS for a lifetime achievement in broadcast journalism and also the Associated Press "Broadcaster of the Year" award.
Clark was a long time member of the Downtown Rotary Club. His fellow members honored him in 1994-95 by electing him President of the club. Since his retirement, he has moved him Rotary membership to the Brentwood area chapter.
He has worked for decades on behalf of the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church. Chris spent 8 years as President of the Parish Council.
During his tenure as President, Holy Trinity constructed their beautiful church and fellowship hall. It is the only example of Byzantine architecture in Middle Tennessee.