The Spirit Of Ted Baxter Is Alive And Well In NewsChannel 5’s Phil Williams (Op-Ed)

Image Credit: @NC5PhilWilliams / X & Public Domain

By Don Beehler [contributor to The Tennessee Conservative] –

Nashville’s NewsChannel 5 is rapidly becoming a television version of the National Enquirer thanks to reporter Phil Williams, whose coverage of last month’s Franklin election more closely resembled the legendary Ted Baxter than the work of a serious investigative reporter.

For those too young to remember him, Baxter was a fictional TV newsman who epitomized style over substance. He would gladly sacrifice journalistic integrity to expand his fan base or win an award.

Of course, Williams isn’t the only media person who uses sensationalism and questionable tactics to achieve his desired outcome. Jerry Springer and Geraldo Rivera made careers out of bringing a train-wreck mentality to virtually every story.

But even Springer and Rivera would have a hard time topping Williams’ coverage of the Franklin election. From September 11 to October 24, NewsChannel 5’s website lists 21 stories by Williams about mayoral candidate Gabrielle Hanson—all negative—and not a single story about her opponent, the incumbent mayor Ken Moore. 

Given the station’s market is Middle Tennessee, it’s hard to understand how NewsChannel 5’s senior management justified such extensive, lopsided and sensational coverage of a local election that was irrelevant to most people outside of Franklin. 

Even more important, what does a 21-0 ratio of stories say about NewsChannel 5’s sense of fairness and balance in its reporting? 

While there are still some good reporters who are even-handed in their coverage, the sad truth is that today both local and national news coverage, as a whole, have evolved from reporting the facts (“We report, you decide”) to shaping public opinion through selective and often slanted reporting. In some cases, there is outright advocacy of causes and individuals, as well as propaganda disguised as news stories. 

It’s no wonder, then, that trust in America’s news media has been dwindling for decades. A recent Gallup poll found that just 34% say they hold a “great deal” or “fair amount” of confidence in the news media, while 38%, hold no trust at all.

Still, that’s about a third of Americans who may believe reporters like Phil Williams are credible sources of information. The following is just one example of how he manipulates stories and why it’s risky to take what he says at face value.

When Westhaven community residents held a private forum for candidates prior to Franklin’s election for mayor and aldermen, Willams managed to make his way into the residents-only event. His story that evening led with the assertion that “chaos” erupted at the forum. 

In reality, as video evidence from inside the crowded room makes clear, there was no chaos. (A brief dispute at the door over whether reporters were allowed to attend this private event was handled promptly and professionally.) 

But leading with a minor dispute at the door, and an otherwise orderly crowd gathered inside to hear candidates discuss issues important to voters, wouldn’t have the same pizzazz as a grinning Phil Williams declaring “chaos” erupted at the event. Somewhere, Ted Baxter must have been smiling along with him. 

During the forum Mayor Moore was asked about his alleged Hatch Act violations. His response was that he had consulted with his attorney and the city attorney, and that he looked forward to clearing his name. If true, violations of the Hatch Act are a pretty big deal, yet somehow this slipped past eagle-eyed Phil. Or did it?

Based on Williams’ one-sided coverage of the Franklin election and his savaging of Moore’s opponent, it certainly seems as though Williams was on a mission to help Moore get re-elected, and the allegations of the Hatch Act violations were ignored because they were detrimental to that mission. 

These serious allegations and the supporting documentation accompanying them didn’t merit a single NewsChannel 5 story because they didn’t fit Williams’ agenda-driven narrative. Hence, the 21-0 coverage.

For those who may have doubts, Williams’ NewsChannel 5 bio assures us that he is “a nice guy.” Yet when a group of Franklin voters issued a public call for fairness and civility in the Franklin election, “nice guy” Phil Williams took to Twitter to mock them. We can only speculate about why he seems to think that fairness and civility are a joke.

Holding reporters like Williams accountable is a challenge, especially since he has a powerful TV station with significant resources behind him. He can edit an interview to shape his story and find other people to say pretty much whatever he wants, providing perceived credibility to his reporting. A prime example is his hit piece on Hanson’s religious beliefs, implying that a Christian worldview is dangerous and has no place in politics. 

Having spent more than three decades working with news media throughout the world, I’ve encountered my share of reporters like Williams, especially ones who were hostile to people of faith. Based on my experience, I believe the best course of action for conservative, traditional-values candidates—whether they are in Middle Tennessee or other parts of the state—is to simply ignore such reporters. 

This is not to suggest that conservatives dodge tough questions or avoid reporters altogether; rather, the issue is whether a candidate has confidence that his or her answers will be honestly and accurately reflected in a reporter’s story. If a reporter has a track record of being biased and untrustworthy, there’s nothing to gain by granting an interview.

There are times when it’s necessary to respond to something particularly outrageous or inaccurately reported in the news. In such cases, I suggest issuing a statement rather than risk becoming a victim of clever editing. A candidate’s website should have clear information about where he or she stands on issues. It’s the perfect place to direct a questionable reporter seeking information, along with public statements from candidate forums and other places.

That, of course, will not keep Williams from harassing true conservatives in hopes of getting something he can use against them. In such cases, smartphones should be employed to record Phil before, during and after an interview—or even in an attempted interview—so that the full story, and his behavior, can be recorded and circulated for all to see. 

No reporter is entitled to an interview. Before agreeing to speak with a member of the news media, candidates need to investigate the investigator to get an idea of how conservative issues and individuals are treated. 

Only do an interview if you believe you will be treated fairly. Be polite and prepared with your messaging, and be sure to record each interview, just in case. If you make a mistake admit it, apologize and move on.

When in doubt, Proverbs 23:9 provides wise counsel: “Don’t speak to a fool, for he will despise the insight of your words.”

About the Author: Don Beehler is a retired public relations consultant in Franklin, Tennessee. For more information visit www.donbeehler.com.