Former WSAV journalist to begin role May 18
By Delayna Earley and Mike McCombs
The Island News
The City of Beaufort announced Wednesday, April 22 that it has hired former WSAV-TV journalist Danielle Cobb as its new Public Information Officer.
City Manager Scott Marshall said Cobb will begin her role May 18. She will oversee the city’s communications efforts, including media relations, public messaging, digital outreach and community engagement, and serve as the primary liaison between the city and the public, media and community stakeholders.
Cobb, who lives in Beaufort and is originally from Spartanburg, joined WSAV-TV in July 2024 as a multimedia journalist covering the Lowcountry and Coastal Empire. She graduated from the University of South Carolina Beaufort in 2024 with a degree in communications.
Cobb declined to comment for this story prior to her start date, citing employer policy.
In a message to The Island News, Cobb said she is unable to speak with media while still employed at WSAV-TV.
“I’m still employed with WSAV until the 15th of May and by Nexstar policy, I can’t talk with any media sources unless authorized by my station,” Cobb said, adding that she would be open to speaking after that date.
Mayor Phil Cromer said Cobb brings both regional knowledge and communication experience to the role.
“Danielle brings a deep understanding of our region and a proven ability to communicate effectively in both routine and high-profile situations,” Cromer said. “We are excited to welcome her to the City team and look forward to the positive impact she will have.”
Cobb said in the city’s announcement that she is eager to take on the role.
“I’m incredibly excited to step into this position,” Cobb said. “What makes this opportunity especially meaningful is that I not only work here, but I call this city home. I care deeply about this community and look forward to continuing to build strong relationships by listening with an open ear and an open mind.”
Her hiring comes as the city prepares to navigate several high-profile projects, including the planned reconstruction of the Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park promenade, a project expected to require extensive public communication with residents and downtown businesses.
Her hiring, however, did not follow a traditional public application process.
Marshall confirmed the city did not post the job, saying he wanted to avoid a gap in a role he described as critical to daily operations and emergency communication.
“This is a very important decision. You don’t want a gap in the responsibilities any longer than you have to,” Marshall said.
Marshall said he was already familiar with Cobb’s work through a professional relationship and approached her directly about the position.
“I was aware of Danielle’s capabilities and thought she might be a good fit,” he said. “I asked if she was interested, invited her to interview, and after that process, I offered her the position.”
While Cobb has not previously served as a Public Information Officer, Marshall said her background in journalism outweighed any concerns about experience.
“Maybe only briefly,” he said. “I look at that in the totality of what I’ve seen with her – her skills, her ability and her acumen on the other side of the microphone.”
Marshall pointed to her professionalism as a key factor.
“She likes to get the real story out to people, and that’s what we’re looking to do in the city,” he said. “We want to be transparent in what we’re doing.”
Marshall acknowledged that some may question the lack of a public posting, but said the decision was within his authority under the council-manager form of government. He added that there is no requirement for the position to be publicly posted.
“There’s no requirement for this hire to be transparent,” he said. “It was an expedient appointment of someone I feel was highly qualified for the position and was in the best interests of the city.”
He added that feedback from City Council members has been positive and said Cobb was not the only person considered, noting he had a short list of potential candidates if she had declined.
The city’s announcement also prompted a wide range of responses on social media, where comments reflected both support for Cobb and questions about the hiring process.
Several commenters congratulated Cobb and expressed confidence in her ability to take on the role.
“Congratulations, Danielle. This is exciting,” one commenter wrote, adding that her perspective “is going to serve you really well stepping into this.”
Others raised concerns about transparency, particularly the decision not to publicly post the position or outline a formal hiring process.
“To my knowledge, this position was not formally posted or publicly advertised prior to the selection,” wrote Elizabeth “Ivie” Szalai in a comment that prompted extended discussion. “If that is incorrect, I would appreciate being directed to where and when the position was posted.”
In an interview with The Island News, Szalai said her concerns are focused on the process, not the individual hired.
“While I understand that the City Manager may have the legal authority to make appointments without posting a position, I was disappointed that this role was not publicly advertised,” Szalai said. “I am aware of several individuals who were interested in applying and were never given the opportunity.”
She said decisions like this, even if permissible, can affect public confidence.
“When the City consistently emphasizes transparency but then fills a highly visible public-facing position through what appears to be a private process, it raises reasonable concerns,” she said. “Whether permissible or not, decisions like this can erode public confidence.”
Szalai also said the hiring process itself may shape early public perception of Cobb in a role closely tied to trust and communication.
“I want to be clear that I do not know Danielle Cobb personally, and my comments are not a reflection on her as an individual,” she said. “That said, when someone is placed into a forward-facing role that is fundamentally tied to transparency and public trust, the process by which they are hired matters.”
She noted the timing of the appointment may add to public scrutiny, pointing to ongoing concerns in the community related to public records and communication.
“This appointment comes while the investigation into the handling of the Hollis FOIA matter is still pending,” Szalai said. “That context, fairly or unfairly, may contribute to public perception challenges that she did not create but will now have to navigate.”
The Hollis FOIA matter referenced by Szalai stems from an incident last year in which the city acknowledged it had mistakenly released thousands of pages of sensitive information, including records involving minors, in response to a public records request. The release prompted an internal review and an ongoing investigation into the city’s handling of FOIA requests.
Another commenter echoed concerns about leadership and consistency, writing that while Cobb may bring strong qualities to the role, “the person before her demonstrated those same qualities, but without that standard at the top, it doesn’t carry through.”
Cobb will be the third person to serve as the city’s Public Information Officer in roughly the past year and a half. She replaces Ashley Brandon, who held the role for about 14 months before leaving in March. Brandon succeeded Kathleen Williams, who retired from the position in late 2024 after joining the city in 2019.
Szalai said the Public Information Officer role should serve as a consistent and transparent link between the city and its residents.
“The PIO serves as the public face and voice of the City,” she said. “That role should be grounded in transparency, responsiveness, and respect for the public’s right to information.”
Cobb said her focus entering the role will be centered on those same principles.
“My mission coming into this position is simple,” she said. “To prioritize the people, businesses and journalists that make up this community through transparency and honest communication.”
Editor’s note: The Island News assistant editor Delayna Earley previously interviewed for the City of Beaufort’s Public Information Officer position when it was publicly posted in late 2024. This is disclosed for transparency.
Delayna Earley, who joined The Island News in 2022, formerly worked as a photojournalist for The Island Packet/The Beaufort Gazette, as well as newspapers in Indiana and Virginia. She can be reached at delayna.theislandnews@gmail.com.
Mike McCombs is the Editor of The Island News and can be reached at TheIslandNews@gmail.com.