A former Hartford Courant columnist alleges that the new management forced him out because he wrote unflattering news about a Courant advertiser.
George Gombossy created his own Web site, where he published the column critical of the advertiser, mattress vendor Sleepy’s Inc. He also blasted the Courant for holding the column and forcing his departure.
Gombossy, a former Courant business editor who worked for the newspaper for 40 years, said in an interview that the Courant’s senior vice president, Jeff Levine, and Publisher Richard Graziano are “destroying the Courant instead of saving it.”
Gombossy’s column reported that Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal is investigating as many as 10 complaints that Sleepy’s sold mattresses that were used instead of new. It details one case of a Norwalk man who claimed his mattress was infested with bedbugs.
The column said Sleepy’s offered to replace the mattress but did not agree that the mattress was infested. The company did not return calls from The Associated Press seeking comment.
Blumenthal confirmed that his office is conducting the investigation, but wouldn’t say how many complaints have been received or verified by his office. He said Sleepy’s has been cooperative in his investigation. (AP)
Reader response:
“The Courant’s decision to muzzle and then fire consumer reporter George Gombossy is so short-sighted and stupid! During an economic time like this, when desperate people–businesses–do desperate things, it’s even more important for the media to provide a clearinghouse for good consumer information and to support truth in advertising. The Courant is showing itself to be among the most desperate. I have a suggestion. Rather than taking the slow road to irrelevance, why doesn’t The Courant just let the advertisers write all the news, and get the inevitable over with! R.I.P.” — Donna Donovan, Really Good Copy Co.
“I thought that editorial news could not be affected by advertising! This move just shows how small-minded the Courant is!” — Linda Hirsch, retired
“First, there was his connection to a married Fox 61 female employee, who was pinched twice in an hour for drunken driving. Then, the “Big Boob Friday” reference attributed to him by Shelly Sindland, who is suing the station. Now, it’s Good-bye Gombossy? Wow, has Rich Graziano, Fox 61’s GM and new Publisher of The Courant, had a rough few months.” — Tony Terzi, Diversified Building Services LLC
“Can you say retraction…” — Tony E. Jorgensen, The Jorgensen Law Firm LLC Â
