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Tuesday, July 07, 2009
Bronson’s boo-boo and hiding the stink
Posted by The Dean of Cincinnati
Photo courtesy of here.
Yesterday, we posted this item, documenting how Enquirer columnist and vanity publisher Peter Bronson presented a doctored photo to readers as if it were real. We also wrote a letter to Bronson, asking for a correction. The item took off, getting featured in media watchdog websites and others from around the country.
*Editor and Publisher, “‘Cincy Enquirer’ Faked Out By Franken Photo?”
*Poynter Online, Romanesko, “Cincy Enquirer blogger posts fake Franken photo as real”
*Eschaton, Atrios, “Wanker of the Day”
*MinnPost.com, “Cincinnati columnist spanked for using fake Franken ‘baby’ photo”
In a move that appears quite Orwellian on its surface, Bronson decided to post a public apology for this behavior, but for the last day the original post has been down the memory hole. Even through Bronson linked to it in his apology, the post that started the firestorm has apparently been deleted. Yesterday, I sent the following:
Peter,
FYI, in your item today about the Franken photo, the link leading to your 7/1/09 story is dead; click on (here):
Last week I posted a blog about comedian Al Franken joining the Senate (here), including a picture of Franken wearing bunny ears and a diaper.
Another technical glitch, the 7/1/09 story is also now MIA from your TOC: http://tinyurl.com/lq4c8n
I’m working on a follow-up so I’d appreciate it if you’d check with the Enquirer’s webmaster and let me know when the original item and comments will be back online.
Thanks,
[The Dean]
You can still find a screenshot of the original posting here.
So here is how the timeline looks.
1. Bronson uploads the fake photo and presents it as real.
2. The problem is brought to his attention.
3. Bronson tries to avoid doing the right thing, issuing this comment on the now deleted blog post:
PeterBronson wrote:
Yes, the photo of Franken in a diaper was apparently altered. But it’s not exacly a big reach to believe it could have come from one of his SNL skits. It resonates because people find it easy to see Franken that way.
7/6/2009 10:46 AM EDT
4. Bronson’s bad behavior is picked up nationally by media watchdog groups.
5. The original post is deleted.
6. An apology is issued, pointing back to a blank page since the evidence has been removed from Enquirer’s servers.
After spending his career as a professional columnist with a major daily paper, I expect more straightforward and ethical behavior from Peter Bronson.
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07 Jul 2009 at 08:49 am | #
“After spending his career as a professional columnist with a major daily paper, I expect more straightforward and ethical behavior from Peter Bronson.”
Surely this episode has convinced you to drop your expectations of Bronson.
07 Jul 2009 at 09:40 am | #
Whatever else you might say about good ole’ Pete, you can’t fault him on his ability to strategically cut and paste other news organization’s editorial writing. Often with the result of materially altering the original author’s intent. Hey, maybe it’s not actual journalism, but when has that ever mattered to the Enquirer?
07 Jul 2009 at 09:41 am | #
http://johnemcintyre.blogspot.com/2009/07/might-be-imagined-by-some-people-to-be.html
07 Jul 2009 at 10:14 am | #
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/07/republican-columnist-uses-fake-franken-photo.php
07 Jul 2009 at 10:16 am | #
http://www.mncampaignreport.com/diary/3538/mud-soup-by-The-Big-E
07 Jul 2009 at 10:22 am | #
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/7/6/750525/-Cincinnati-columnist-uses-fake-photo-of-Franken-in-a-diaper
07 Jul 2009 at 10:23 am | #
Also at http://www.hinessight.com/
and
http://www.cincynation.com/
(no direct links available)
07 Jul 2009 at 11:47 am | #
Comment posted by Bronson under his 7/1/09 article, now scrubbed from the Enquirer:
PeterBronson wrote:
Yes, the photo of Franken in a diaper was apparently altered. But it’s not exacly a big reach to believe it could have come from one of his SNL skits. It resonates because people find it easy to see Franken that way.
7/6/2009 10:46 AM EDT
Re: the widespread coverage of Bronson’s shabby work - plenty of resonance, I’d say - it looks like people find it easy to see him as portrayed in the above graphic: Diaper Baby Bronson.
07 Jul 2009 at 02:14 pm | #
http://thinkprogress.org/2009/07/07/franken-cincinnati/
07 Jul 2009 at 02:28 pm | #
Congrats Dean on your being featured on Josh Marshal’s excellent TPM, Atrios & Editor & Publisher. These sites are doing some of the best work to be found out there. You are in some pretty good company!
07 Jul 2009 at 04:29 pm | #
Picked-up today by Greg Sargent’s WashPost blog: http://tinyurl.com/n9pseu
07 Jul 2009 at 06:05 pm | #
KO from CityBeat’s Kevin Osborne: http://www.citybeat.com/cincinnati/blog-842-bronsons-disappearing-act.html
07 Jul 2009 at 06:17 pm | #
KO with a KO!
07 Jul 2009 at 07:53 pm | #
Yes, the photo of Bronson in a diaper was apparently altered. But it’s not exactly a big reach to believe it could have come from his blog because all the opinions he puts in his columns and on his blog are such a joke. It resonates because people find it easy to see Bronson that way.
07 Jul 2009 at 09:18 pm | #
Cincinnati Enquirer blogger/columnist mistakes fake Franken photo for the real deal, RegretTheError.com: http://tinyurl.com/mrtr7h
07 Jul 2009 at 10:16 pm | #
.
Bronson’s post diappeared as fast as the local misleaders, Tryingtafoolyou, post of cancer patient Arlen Specter and the photo comparison to Dr. Evil.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/30/specter-dr-evil-compariso_n_193744.html
What is it about wingnuts ?
.
07 Jul 2009 at 10:20 pm | #
.
Triantafilou deserves a Time Out
May 01, 2009 • 9:37 am
By Bob Karp
http://blogs.dailyrecord.com/photojournalist/tag/arlen-specter/
.
07 Jul 2009 at 10:21 pm | #
Bronson is also good at cutting and pasting GOP talking points.
07 Jul 2009 at 11:06 pm | #
Just finishing up Bronson’s 2006 book Behind the Lines: The Untold Stories of the Cincinnati Riots. Overall an impressive read (with, might I add, some very questionable opinions) for someone who behaves like a jackass. A recommended read despite the context of this article for all of you Cincinnatians.
07 Jul 2009 at 11:19 pm | #
The picture was altered? You are kidding me right? I thought that his wife took that this weekend after a few Burger Beers!
08 Jul 2009 at 09:42 am | #
Norton I read a bit of that book and sooooo very one-sided.
Bronson can hit a home run every now and then. Although he didn’t with that book.
He should be ashamed of himself for using that doctored photo. Shame on you PB.
08 Jul 2009 at 11:00 am | #
local misleaders, Tryingtafoolyou (and Bronson)
You got that right.
08 Jul 2009 at 07:06 pm | #
Well, Bronson just got the axe.
08 Jul 2009 at 07:22 pm | #
If the tweets are true, you won’t have Pete Bronson to kick around any more.
08 Jul 2009 at 08:09 pm | #
Peter Bronson was fired, er, laid off today, so you don’t have to worry about him anymore.
08 Jul 2009 at 08:21 pm | #
Yeah, there was an entry BRIEFLY on his cincinnati.com blog announcing his layoff. When I say briefly, I mean less than an hour, 5 p.m. or 6ish.
08 Jul 2009 at 08:41 pm | #
The permalink still works.
08 Jul 2009 at 09:00 pm | #
I’ll confess PB was the guy I loved to hate.
Bye Bye Bronson…..
Miss ya - See ya.