What next? Dome asks.
Benjamin Niolet, who has been your Domemeister since 2009, is leaving The News & Observer to become director of new media in the office of Democratic Gov. Bev Perdue.
Niolet, (pronounced VI-o-let with an "n"), a New Orleans native with a razor sharp wit, will move Sept. 30 to his new digs under the state capitol dome. Niolet will make $60,000 a year in the job, said Perdue spokeswoman Chrissy Pearson.
Justin Guillory, an assistant press secretary who had inherited the new media duties, will move to a job in the Department of Commerce, Pearson said.
Niolet, who has excelled at the N&O for seven years, will join former Domer and Charlotte Observer reporter Mark Johnson in the governor's office. Johnson became deputy communications director for Perdue in June.
We can't help but wonder whether the governor is executing a hostile takeover of Dome.
But we guarantee, governor, no matter how depleted our staffing, we will never publish this press release: "First Gentleman Encourages Families to Eat Dinner Together on Family Day."
Those of us still at Dome look forward to Mr. Niolet's creative use of the Internets. We wish him the best.
UPDATE: Pearson said Guillory's move was not part of a reorganization, but his departure for the Commerce job allowed her to reorganize roles in the office.
Comments
I doubt he'll regret his choice (but I wish he would anyway)
September 22, 2010 - 10:31am — Isaac136It is certain that Niolet won't miss the moronic comments posted here to the effect that the N&O is just a mouthpiece for the Democrats. The N&O has done an outstanding job, with Niolet's assistance, at uncovering all shorts of hijinks within the Democrat-controlled state government. If N&O were serving as the mouthpiece for the Democrats, Perdue wouldn't have to buy staffers off one by one.
But how on earth can we afford to keep this up? I don't know what we're now paying former N&O reporter Mark Johnson for his position within the Gov's office, but presumably something close to if not higher than the $60,000 being shelled out for Niolet's new job. It's taxpayers who are footing the bill for Perdue's agenda to get the N&O off her back by employing its reporters.
In effect, we're paying for the news to go away.
WHATCANISAY
September 22, 2010 - 9:21am — samiam123With the Domemeister going to the Governor's Office, that completes "The Circle of Life"....If I could I would buy me an island...this state saddens me.....now you can "crop" this comment whenever you like....g'bye....
Leaving one Democratic Spin machine for another
September 22, 2010 - 6:48am — conservI almost spewed my cornflakes this morning when I saw this post. What a laugh. Actually I thought that the NNO WAS the media office for ALL Democratic organizations in the state of North Carolina. In fact, I think the NNO should put the seal of the North Carolina Democratic Party on their paper's banner...
Have fun Ben. I'm sure that Mr. Quarles and Mr. Drescher already have another Democrat hack lined up to fill the slot. There seem to be so many of you guys hanging around this place...
Figures
September 21, 2010 - 8:23pm — SaintPinehurstExplains a lot, actually. Isn't Ben following another N&O reporter to that administration?
Sorry to see you go, Ben Niolet
September 21, 2010 - 8:00pm — Isaac136Another good reporter gone.
Dang.
If the dark side doesn't treat you well, Ben, please return to journalism -- that you may continue to SHED light rather than obscure it for the benefit of Perdue or any other politician.
One Democratic Organization to the Real Thing
September 21, 2010 - 7:05pm — jap1212Surprise.....N&O reporter joins Democratic machine. Oh wait, they are one and the same.....
Sounds about right. Moving
September 21, 2010 - 6:20pm — NotaliberalSounds about right. Moving from one unprofessional organization to another. Can use the same skills too: start with a predetermined conclusion, add a few twisted facts, a whole lot of inuendo and a generous amount of outright lies and then see who it can hurt. The only thing more corrupt than the News and Observer is Perdue's administation.
Neolet falls prey to the slave agenda administration
September 21, 2010 - 5:53pm — BitterEXdemocratbut I hear government jobs are paying 3x private sector...still Id be embarrassed to
be tapped by the controlling ruling class for any job...
Neolet falls prey to the slave agenda administration
September 21, 2010 - 5:53pm — BitterEXdemocratbut I hear government jobs are paying 3x private sector...still Id be embarrassed to
be tapped by the controlling ruling class for any job...
state dems and Swindell getting desperate
September 21, 2010 - 4:23pm — bigpalthe state democratic party must be getting mighty desperate by sending out BS brochures for A B "show me the money" Swindell. the brochure state is that who you want to be your senator? i would rather have Buck than the extortion tainted campaign contribution accepting , political patronizing, special interest marc basnight crony incumbent we have now. implying Buck Newton is or was a drug dealer. if you look closely at the brochure it states the charges were dismissed by the prosecutor. obtw the charges that were dimissed were over 20 years ago , im sure when he was a young man. i dont know the circumstances surrounding these dimissed charges but i can only assume the da did not have sufficient cause to pursue them. in this country you are considered innocent until PROVEN guilty. unlike the felony convicted former state dept of environmental resourses employee and duck hunting friend of A B "show me the money " Swindell who makes exortion tainted campaign contributions to that crook. All polls show Newton with a big advantage over the corrupt , special interest, political patronizing Swindell who is one of the poster boys for state wide democratic political corruption continuing the fine tradition embodied by former gov James b Hunt Jr , "the king of political patronage" and his proteges to help NC maintrain its reputation as the most corrupt state in the country with all due respect to Louisiana, Illinois, New jersy and New York.