WIS Names New Anchor Teams

COLUMBIA, SC – January 14, 2009 – Judi Gatson, veteran WIS News 10 anchor, has been named co-anchor of the weeknight editions of WIS News 10 Nightcast at 11pm.  Judi will co-anchor both the 6 and 11pm newscasts with Ben Hoover, who joined WIS in August.  The announcement was made today by Donita Todd, VP/General Manager of WIS Television and WIS News Director Brad Neuhoff.

Dawndy Mercer Plank, who has co-anchored the 11pm news for several years, will continue to co-anchor the 5pm newscast, Live at 5, with Judi Gatson, in addition to the 7:00 Report with Ben Hoover. Dawndy will also report for WIS News 10 at 6.  She will change her working hours to allow her to spend more time with her new husband, Craig Plank, and her three stepchildren.

In another personnel change, Hannah Horne will re-join WIS News 10 as anchor of the weekday 12pm newscast, WIS News 10 Midday.  Hannah was the long-time co-anchor of WIS News 10 Sunrise before leaving the station in 2008.  Horne will anchor the Midday news with meteorologist Ben Tanner, with whom she also worked on Sunrise.

The changes will take effect February 1st. General Manager Donita Todd says she is pleased that the Columbia television market’s most-watched 6pm anchor team will also be together at 11pm.  “Judi Gatson is a great addition to the Nightcast team,” Todd said.  “We are also very happy that Dawndy can make a lifestyle change that suits her new family situation, and she will continue to make valuable contributions to all of our early evening newscasts.”  

Hannah Horne was a very popular member of the WIS News 10 team, working her way up from news producer to co-anchor of the Midlands’ most popular morning news anchor team.  “We are fortunate to have the chance to bring Hannah back to WIS,” said News Director Brad Neuhoff.  “We know she will pick up right where she left off, providing strong leadership to our Midday newscast, and adding her considerable talents to reporting from the field for other newscasts.”

WIS Television is part of Raycom Media, Inc., an employee-owned company and one of the nation’s largest broadcasters.  Raycom owns or operates 46 television stations in 18 states. Raycom stations cover more than 12% of U.S. television households and employ 3300 individuals in full and part-time positions. Raycom Media is headquartered in Montgomery, Alabama.