MOUTHPIECES COME, MOUTHPIECES GO …
Former WIS TV 10 (NBC – Columbia, S.C.) news anchor Ben Hoover is a good guy – as far as we know. He’s also a halfway decent investigative reporter … you know, as TV “journalists” go.
But no matter our personal affinity (or professional respect) for the guy, you won’t see us joining the local handwringing in response to his employer’s decision not to renew his contract.
Why not? We’ll explain that in a moment …
Hoover broke the news about his employment status to his Facebook fans just prior to the long holiday weekend …
“Recently, I was informed by station managers that they did not wish to renew my contract,” he wrote. “Like so many other anchors and reporters in the past, I wish I was in a position to announce the next opportunity for my family and me. But, to be honest, I didn’t see this one coming. So, as we like to say on the news, you’ll have to stay tuned. And, maybe say a little prayer for my family and me.”
Hoover’s last day on the air was July 4, meaning his transition from the station’s lead anchor to “see ya, wouldn’t wanna be ya” was almost instantaneous. That means he either did something really bad or his bosses pulled a major “dick move.”
The latter certainly wouldn’t surprise us …
Here’s the problem with WIS … like most South Carolina mainstream media outlets, the station is nothing but a rolling commercial for South Carolina’s failed status quo. In other words its leaders believe every government program is “good,” any cut to government is “bad” and any statement handed down from a pandering politician like Nikki Haley or Lindsey Graham should be taken as gospel.
For the last six years, Hoover has been reflexively regurgitating this establishment pablum from the station’s uber-liberal teleprompter … the same way his replacement will.
Is he a good anchor? Sure.
Do we feel sorry for him being out of a job? Of course we do …
But at the end of the day, Hoover spoon-fed his viewers pre-packaged, establishment-approved bullsh*t for a living … so it’s hard to feel too sorry for the guy.
95 comments
At least he would laugh at some of the things that he knew were bull shit. Maybe they can hire another one Queen Niki’s family. At least they have someone who can report on the dot head community.
I just don’t know what to say.
I never felt that way about him. He always seemed like the brother I wish I had. Any word on who will replace him? That will be interesting.
There is an anchor position posted on their web site. I’m guessing no one for awhile until they hire the new David Stanton, Ben Hoover, Susan Elizabeth Littlefield, etc. Donita Todd has to have someone new to fuck over when she get’s a wild hair in a few years.
WN need not apply…I’m guessing, if you read the best commentary on this: at: http://scdigest.blogspot.com/2…
She’ll hire another white male, she’s scared fuck over anyone else. Gotta have a punching bag so everyone else knows who’s in charge.
Your sentence does not make sense..Are you a Dumb@$$???…never mind…don’t answer…
I would bet a year’s salary that easterndumbfuckastan in a battle of wits with you (a’la the old GE College Bowl or Jeopardy) would wipe his ass with you.
You do see the irony of you calling anyone a “mouthpiece?” You are the biggest paid shill in SC.
yeah but at least I write my own propaganda …
We did this a couple days ago: And I think we hit on it. I think FITS TOTALLY missed it (what’s new)…
It seems something besides merit is dictating decisions in media jobs: GREAT Read::And NAILS IT: http://scdigest.blogspot.com/2014/07/is-there-agenda-of-bias-in-hiring-in.html
There is no station as WVOC, 1000.1-FM radio. 1000.1 is in the national radio quite area that’s used for radio astronomy. SETI, etc. Anyone transmitting there is in serious trouble with the FCC, etc. Emily you should know better. They should have taught you better at Calhoun (No Niggers Allowed) Academy.
I think you might better look again: Your whole “GOTCHA” is a F*#k up on your part…Dumb@$$….
Except I copied and pasted it directly from your blog. Wow, editing your own blog takes skill. Google Cache is a wonderful thing. http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:87HkkEaR4LkJ:scdigest.blogspot.com/2014/07/is-there-agenda-of-bias-in-hiring-in.html+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us
I live in you MoFos’ mind…rent free…Busting your @$$ to catch a typo…but yet you’re too F*#king Stupid to originate a thought on your own…
Now sit back until I say ‘Jump’…Hahahaha…
Why don’t you just write out ASS and FUCKING? If you’re going to be a cunt, you might as well be one that spells out words she’s trying to say.
Actually, that’s part of what makes he/she/it a cunt.
And the screen capture for when the Google Cache is cleared.
http://postimg.org/image/9jr7feof1/
Holy shit, who wrote that, there are grammatical errors every other word. Did the writer recently suffer a stroke? And this is the edited version.
LOL
This is (at least) the second time he’s gone back to cover up his fuck up and pretend it was never there in the first place. Caught doing the same thing to TBG.
That boy’s got no shame…
“I got no shame in my game…”
—– Fleece Johnson
CIC…I see you as one who likes FITS, and I see FITS do something well sometimes. He got the tip that Benjamin had been fired from his law firm, days before The State got it (today.)
But FITS REALLY screwed up on the Ben Hoover thing. I am Turning this motha OUT with those companion pieces…And I’m pretty sure that I know of the rather complex reason why……That’s all I can say now. BUT LAW…I’m knocking the roof off…
So, fits didn’t see a need to comment on something that had been in the news and copied onto your site and he is now losing the turf wars for alternative media in Columbia? A lot of things happen in and around Columbia that FIts doesn’t see fit to comment on until after they become the talk of the town. That doesnt’ mean that his reporting on political corruption at all levels isn’t relevant or worthwhile.
I’m TRULY delighted you see it that way.
If you are replying to “Emily Peterkin” it’s not me. Some weirdo started a Facebook profile in my name and is writing all over blogs like this and newspapers. It’s not me! I’ve reported him /her. ????
Deleted any reference to you. Sorry that is happening. YUCK!
Thanks. This person is a lunatic. She’s all over political blogs, The Charleston City paper, The State etc pissing people off. I don’t even Facebook that much. I messaged her and basically she/ he told me that there is nothing I could do about it. Yuck is right.
It’s T. Lawrence, aka “Big T” and “Grand Tango.” Has a blog called South Carolina Political Digest.
Who is “we”? GrandTango, Emily and BigT?
Why don’t you go and do something useful, like suck start a shotgun.
What website? That ghost town of a page you call a blog?
C’mon Dumb@$$…FITS is sucking my seconds. I (we) reported on it days ago. Now FITS, who had no F*#king idea, it would be a story, is trying to play catch up, along with his band of @$$-kissers, like you…and you still missed it.
Admit it, you got caught w/ your pants down, in a circle jerk, while I was kicking yiour @$$…LMAO….
Keep telling yourself that. It doesn’t take a lot of investigative reporting to copy and paste from The State and WIS.
Emily, you’re just experiencing a classic case of penis envy and wish you could join in a circle jerk. Please be quiet, men are talking.
This person “Emily Peterkin” started a profile on FB in my name last month. I’ve reported he/she. I think it’s a troll. Thanks.
Squishy, YOU’RE PROBABLY THE BAD ROADKILL FITS WAS UPCHUCKING. TRY READING IT THIS TIME AND SEE THE PATTERN…….http://scdigest.blogspot.com/2014/07/is-there-agenda-of-bias-in-hiring-in.html
Ah, GrandTango/BigT/Emily has taken on yet another new identity.
This person leaving comments under the name “Emily Peterkin” started a facebook page in my name. She’s a liar and insane and I’ve reported her. Ignore this troll!
It should be known, this author is in anyway connected to, works for, gives advice to, or reads anything from Grand Tango Productions.
I am looking to roll out politicalgambit.com, theconservativepragmatist.com, politicalfare.com, hillaryisapiginapantsuit.org, and gunrightsformexicanimmigrants.com in 2015.
Please know that a person has started up a Facebook profile in my name and leaving comments all over SC blogs. She’s not making any new friends. This person has a cartoon profile pic of a woman. She/he is a lunatic and I’m reporting her.
Can’t you just call the police?
At least he does not have to worry about selling his house, he sold it on 1.14.13.
Maybe he did see it coming.
So he sold his house a year and a half ago because he knew he was getting fired? I hope you aren’t half this ignorant in person.
So Will, how do you get the taste of T-Rav’s dick out of your mouth? Talking about a shill, what the fuck are you?
Dawndy? No … but there are several ex-WISers I’d be all over ;)
The skinny redhead who’s bloopers included her slipping and falling into a big pothole?
Looks like 98% of people disagree with you (which isn’t unusual) Poll Should @wis10 @RaycomMedia renew News Anchor Ben Hoover Contract? #WISTV #sctweets 1worldonline.com/#!/poll/5673
Here is WIS TV’s statement:
COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) –
During the last several days much has been posted on social media about Ben Hoover’s departure from WIS news, much of it erroneous.
However, we simply cannot engage in a public conversation regarding details of Ben’s departure from WIS TV. It is a private personnel matter.
We sincerely thank Ben for his service to the station and the community and wish him nothing but the best in his future endeavors.
We also want to thank our viewers for their concerns and comments regarding this matter.
We can assure you that WIS remains fully committed to the excellence you have come to expect from this television station over the last 60 years.
This statement only adds fuel to the fire. First they tell us that much of what we have heard is not true, then they refuse to tell us what is true. “We sincerely thank Ben for his service” [???] … Some thanks! They so “sincerely” thanked Ben for his service that they fired him!
Ah, the joys of living in a state that hates unions!
An “at will” employer has no obligation whatsoever to inform the employee, let alone anyone else, why their employment was terminated.
But you better give a two week notice or they will forever trash your references when you seek a new job, elsewhere…
He was probably caught having sex with the owners wife or daughter. If not the owner’s then so board member’s or maybe even one of the on air personalities.
If it was Meaghan Norman, can’t say that I blame him a whole lot. Damn, she reminds me of Pat Benatar from the early 80’s, but I don’t know if she can sing like Pat.
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g7MYICcTc6A/UupoM9nmcVI/AAAAAAAACGI/Mw5oUUNJt-M/s1600/yykjsjvl07wqb9evrb6h.jpeg
Let the truth come out about this firing and Jody Barr’s odd departure too. Gentlemen, we are created in the image of a hokly God. Our mouths do not need to be toilet bowls. Show some class.
Actually I thought both of them were quite classy. I did show pics of them, therefore I was showing class.
YEP, THIS NAILS IT… http://scdigest.blogspot.com/2014/07/is-there-agenda-of-bias-in-hiring-in.html ………. FITS OBVIOUSLY IS UPCHUCKING SOME DANG ROADKILL, LIBERAL ROADKILL. WIS IS GOING FULL ALL OUT LIBERAL COMMIES, SO THEY ARE GETTING RID OF THE REPORTERS THAT ACTUALLY USE THEIR BRAIN….TAYLOR KERNS, JODY BARR PROBABLY PISSED OF A CORRUPT LIBERAL, NOW BEN HOOVER GONE FOR ACTUALLY USING HIS BRAIN AND NOT SPEWING OUT ALL THE COMMIE PROPAGANDA…. IT’S VERY CLEAR THAT WIS DOES NOT GIVE A SHIT ABOUT WHAT THEIR VIWERS THINK/LIKE AS MUCH AS THEY LOVE HANDING US ALL A TALL GLASS OF RED KOOL-AID……FITS, TAKE THE STICK OUT OF YOUR ASS AND TRY TO STOP SIPPING SO MUCH OF THAT KOOL-AID, IT’S BAD FOR YOU.
You’re slipping. It took almost three quarters of the post before you took a shot at Haley
I kinda agree with FITS on this. Sorry the guy lost his job, don’t really care what the reason is, but it’s over. No amount of bellyachin’ and whining is going to bring him back. I’m sure his replacement will be just as likeable as he was. In a few months everyone won’t even think of Ben anymore. Remember Joe Dagget? Jim Gandy? they were unceremoniously canned by WIS also. I liked both of them. Luckily Gandy is still on the air here. WIS has a history of doing this. Get over it, move on, find something that is really worth complaining about.
Apparently the social media attack has worked in Augusta and Spartanburg to bring back popular anchors and weather people at stations in those markets. I know another protest is scheduled for this afternoon at 1111 Bull St at 5:00 PM to again attempt to get WIS’s managements attention. I understand what you are saying about finding something worth complaining about, but this is the first time I remember any organized movement for basically anything in the midlands of SC in many years if ever. Maybe people will realize they can make a difference and start focusing on some things that matter more.
Gandy refused to sign a new contract with WIS in order to wait out his year and go to WLTX. He already had a contract with Gannett before he left WIS. He used to own a store and Richland Mall during his transition and I used to run in to him in the so called food court occasionally. Very interesting guy to talk to, but it saddens me he has become such a shill for global warming and the current political administration. I don’t remember much about the Joe Dagget situation other than he left WIS and then came back later as a political commentator for a year or so.
I like what you say here and am pretty much in agreement with it but I still cannot understand why this situation is all that important. It’s all about some entertainment MSM teleprompter reader. They are all pretty much the same. His replacement will be indistinguishable from whom he’s replacing.
Who knows why anything takes off like that? It’s really weird what takes off where and when. Of course now you’ve clicked in my conspiratorial mind and I’m wondering if it’s all self generated controversy? It’s likely he was in negotiation for a new contract and possibly in negotiation with WLTX/Gannet as well and they had him make the social media post that started the fire storm. (WLTX has an anchor position posted on their website). Then they swoop in and save the day, if he has a non-compete clause that’s still in effect they send him to Charlotte, or Greensboro where they own stations to work for a year and then bring him back to Columbia (Almost to the letter what they did with Jim Gandy he worked as a fill-in in markets all over the southeast and consulted on graphics, etc). Instant ratings boost for WLTX, hurts WIS market share and maybe even causes the WIS GM to get fired for allowing the social media fire storm, or she quits because she can’t take the heat.
I know Ben is popular because he’s personable and lots of people around Columbia interact with him daily. He also lives in a very politically connected neighborhood in Forest Acres. The investigative report where he lived as a homeless person for a week and walking to work and filming it with a GoPro camera during the snow and ice storms gave him a huge boost with the locals.
Very good point you make about what’s basically a merchandising PR campaign. Sneaky and all probable.
I confess that I don’t watch TV news much, local or national. It’s mostly all fluff and PR straight from the daily news releases that companies and politicians put out. No real investigated reports or hard hitting news. Just type the days press releases straight onto the teleprompters with no editing.
Speaking of editing just look at the atrocious grammar on all of our local stations websites. It’s like they don’t really care about professionalism, facts, or quality educated copy editors any more. They hire their copy writers/editors right out of grade school graduation ceremonies. Probably pay them in candy or McDonalds burgers.
RW, you said a mouthful about the “quality” of the “journalists” the local stations employ, anymore. I could do a much better job of writing the stories that appear on these stations. Remember when we used to post on WLTX and how we’d groan about the spelling errors, grammatical train wrecks, and dearth of information that any “reporter” worth his or her salt should have had enough sense to have asked for before typing their wordly abortion? When LTX went to Fecebook posting and we migrated to WIS, it was more of the same. How the hell do these people graduate with a Journalism degree, much less maintain a job at a supposedly “reputable” media outlet????
Recently, a story that was of importance broke about a missing person. It told the name of the neighborhood and the town, but didn’t give a street or other identifier as to where in that town it happened. I called WIS and asked about that, as I couldn’t find the info I needed with Google, not with a simple search, anyway. The neighborhood was not a household word. The “reporter” who answered only responded that, “this is all the police told us”. I asked her why a reporter couldn’t be troubled to ASK for this information, being as information is what viewers and readers wanted to have. She got a little indignant with my line of questioning and my comment that Journalism is a dying or dead art in this area.
It blows my mind how little one apparently needs to know to get a journalism degree and hold a job at a MSM outlet in this town. Apparently the only thing you really need to know to get your journalism degree is, “it is not known at this time if the suspect has obtained the services of an attorney”, as a feeble way of closing up the ending of the article.
Yep, they just print the press release. Don’t bother to ask any questions, that takes time away from posting selfies or pictures of their food.
Its all written and produced by early to mid 20’s bimbos right of “J school” at USC who are more interested in their facebook feed than they are doing a quality job . You can thank USC for what you get.
So my last two sentences above were correct?
Much more Grown up, and thoughtful, handling of the Ben Hoover debacle here:
Why is there such a lack of Diversity at WIS?
Have GM Donita Todd’s politics backfired on WIS: READ http://scdigest.blogspot.com/.
I was going to congratulate you on getting commenters, but then I realized a bunch of the posts with “2 comments” were actually just yours.
How does Ben Tanner hang on year after miserable year?
He’s better than John Farley who has to be the most bland weathercaster since Ken “The Sunshine Fairy” Au Coin left to write books and work for Richland County EMS. The best meteorologist at WIS right now is Tim Miller as far as knowledge and engagement.
Oh shit, you mean there was actually a worse (or even as bad) a weathercaster as the damn Sunshine Fairy???? That there is some scary shit.
Yeah. NONE of the Columbia “meteorologists” are accurate. They use the NOAA GFS model forecasts. (European, Japanese, and Brazillian models are far more accurate.)
When she’s not rendered worthless opinions, Donita Todd has carefully created Frankenweather in her subterranean monster newscaster laboratory. It’s alive, it’s moving, it’s alive, it’s alive, it’s alive, it’s alive, IT’S ALIVE!
WIS has become a media has-been. They run stories from all over the country in a vain attempt to move traffic to their web site. The way they have been running dog stories, I expect to see Cesar Milan announced as the next anchor.
Fire Donita Toad. Her influence has made WIS a joke of a joke.
You get rid of Todd, Teresa Wilson, and Steve Bejamin and most of the bullshit in Columbia would come to an end.
Corruption covered up by incompetent fools who prevent any real investigative journalism.
Poor Jody Barr had to leave town. They wouldn’t let him do his job, and when he did, they hung him out to dry.
Mouthpiece media is a dying dinosaur.
“You get rid of Todd, Teresa Wilson, and Steve Benjamin and most of the bullshit in Columbia would come to an end.”
Amen brother.
When David Stanton saw that he was leaving WIS a few years ago, he did this bogus fluff piece about how great Jean Toal is for South Carolina. This was right about the time she had been caught lying to Jim Lawrence in Lexington County about her second hit and run. Sure enough, Stanton got canned – and went to work for Jean Toal in her Court Administration office. Now, he just mindlessly repeats what Toal tells him to say.
Hoover knew his contract was up and probably they wouldn’t pay him what he demanded. Raycom is in the business to make money for there owner Alabama State Employees Retirement system. Maud Fricket aka manager is a POS with her opinions that nobody ask for.
Don’t know Hoover’s situation, but I have confirmed with one former local TV reporter that not renewing contracts is rarely a last minute decision. Her guess is Hoover knew long before he announced.
Wow, wouldn’t it be refreshing if there were as much public outrage over what’s going on in Washington as there was for Columbia’s prize reporter?
Local vs. national. People care about what directly affects them. A friendly face on the news you feel like you know suddenly disappearing directly affects you. Some underling in Washington creating a report outlining why Obamacare will ultimately be bad for the deficit on day doesn’t.
I don’t actually have a comment about what you said. I just wanted to say that I really enjoy your posts.
Thanks brother.
It’s strange the things that take off in the Midlands and what we ignore. I guess that’s true around the country as well. It’s good to see people engaged about anything in this town as normally apathy rules the day around here. Will and Nikki could get caught screwing on the state house while Nikki performed a ritual sacrifice of two goats and a couple of DSS children to the god of the Port of Savannah. The ensuring protest would be 3 hippie chicks from USC carrying poster board signs that say Impeach Nikki all wearing hemp jewelry and ironic T-shirts.
Leave it to a total scumball like Will Folks to call someone else a “mouthpiece.” I guess the poster boy for white trash got off his knees from T-Rav’s pecker popsicle long enough to come up with this drivel.
Did u inbreds read the national ink T-Rav got over the holiday weekend? They practically deep-throated the guy …
Also last time I checked this website never made any “bones” about its status as an opinion website …
It’s simple, Hoover is not black enough for WIS.
Screw WIS.They are shills for NBC which is one of Obama’s lackeys.
I can’t stand the eye squinting mouth piece Judy Gaston. If there is anyone who needs walking papers is her. But, because WISTV is a minority- affirmative action company, the no talent will always be there. And, What’s up with the plastic blonde with three friggen names? Not impressed either.
Why do you think Kara Gormley left. Maybe someone could get all past anchors and reporters together for a Beerfest. I’m sure they would like to share their perspective.
WIS-TV…
WIS statement regarding Ben Hoover’s
employment
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
We at WIS know y’all must be scratching your heads but hey—we
ARE WIS so…go figga
It’s the Darrell Jackson-McBride rule at its best—Ben was
never gonna be a WIS… !!!
There is a person that stole my identity on Facebook and has been posting as Emily Peterkin. Reported him/her. The profile pic is a cartoon woman. She is leaving ignorant comments all over blogs etc…her days are numbered. Oh, and I think Ben Hoover is great and a gentleman. Some folks could learn a lesson from him. Just sayin.
Five years is forever in TV. A news anchor is a potted plant whose popularity is only as good as the latest Cume & “Q”. Management will fire you for any reason, least of which is not “regurgitating” what they give you to read. The number one reason for an Anchor getting canned is his salary, a percentage of which could go to the Manager. I know a guy who had 75% of the audience for his 6 & 11. He got canned and the ratings dropped to 17%, but the manager got a $25,000 bonus, which at the time was just what he needed to complete the purchase of his brand new Mercedes 500.
When you work for someone else, you work for SOMEONE ELSE. It is no more true than in broadcasting, especially broadcast news.
One of Donita’s more flattering photos.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/t1.0-9/10486111_10152187009487374_1261944718206685980_n.jpg
Moments later she was seen trying to talk Taylor Kearns into breast feeding and overheard how she likes high school boys.
Wow…stories about mid 90’s market TV news reporters getting canned.
It’s the talk of the town around South Carolina right now. Protests, petitions, political intrigue and all the trappings of a scandal. Remember Columbia is still a small town. BTW Columbia is market number 79.
I’m not sure its the talk anywhere around SC..I’m in Charleston and never heard or seen of the dude until I read he got fired today on here. What do I care?
JER8689A lot of departures from WIS lately–Ben Hoover was the best Anchor they had?? Something going on with that station;
Tuning in to ABC from now on—The end of WIS for me, !!