The hideous Courant

MANIFESTO

Just in case any one wondered about the integrity of the Hartford Courant, the possibility has pretty much been dispelled in the story of the 40-year consumer columnist whose position was eliminated

after he launched a new blog which reported [an] unflattering story about an advertiser that [the paper] refused to run.

After ... his position [was eliminated, George] Gombossy launched his new consumer blog site called CT Watchdog and ran the story about Sleepy’s which the Courant had been holding since Aug. 2. “This was the first time in my 40 years at The Courant that an investigation by the attorney general was withheld from the public,” Gombossy said in his editor’s note.

Needless to say, the Courant says the elimination was a mere coincidence.

Naedine Hazell, who is in charge of print operations at the Courant sent out a memo to all staff updating them on his departure.

“Since the elimination of George Gombossy’s position at the Courant, there’s been a great deal of conjecture and misinformation floated in the blogosphere,” Hazell wrote. “First of all, there is no relationship between the change in that job and any story George was working on.”

I'm always amused when these corporate types speak as if their listeners were born yesterday.

Anyway, Gombossy's site looks pretty good, and I've added it to my bookmarks.