Consumer affairs columnist George Gombossy has worked for the Hartford Courant since 1969—longer than most Consumerist readers have been alive. Yesterday was his last day at the paper, but he wasn’t caught up in one of the rounds of buyouts and layoffs hitting the newspaper industry. Gombossy claims that he was “was fired for doing [his] job,” after his last column exposed the bedbug-infested mattresses sold by a major Courant advertiser.

Gombossy is probably best remembered here at Consumerist for exposing the dastardly employees-only price-matching web site practices of Best Buy back in 2007.

He wrote his Watchdog column for the Courant for three years, and was the paper’s business editor for twelve years before that. So what did he do to justify being shown the door?

The last column, which the paper refused to run, is about a Connecticut Attorney General investigation into mattress emporium Sleepy’s. The chain is accused of selling used mattresses as new, and—even worse—selling used mattresses infested with bedbugs as new. Ew.

We’re sorry to hear of yet another newspaper losing its consumer columnist, and are particularly annoyed (though not surprised) to hear of this collision of advertising and editorial. Consumerist, like our sister publication Consumer Reports, doesn’t accept any advertising.

Gombossy is continuing his column as an independent blog, Connecticut Watchdog—check it out. He’s looking for advertisers. Sleepy’s has not yet signed up.

UPDATE: The Courant has responded to Gombossy’s allegations:

From: Hazell, Naedine
Sent: Monday, August 17, 2009 12:37
To: Courant News Staff
Subject: Staff update

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. First of all, there is no relationship between the change in that job and any story George was working on.

One of those stories, a version of which he posted on his personal blog is being held by the newspaper to get answers to certain questions. We are all familiar with the practice of stories being held for more reporting or comment.

Our readers and advertisers do and should expect us to report stories we know are accurate and fully reported. Our advertisers have no influence on what we report, including stories that may include them. In fact, George’s farewell column, which appeared yesterday, was critical of CL&P, an advertiser.

And finally, George knew his job was being eliminated while we moved to a Courant-Fox 61 newly-defined consumer reporter position. He did not express interest in the position.

Bloggers may be questioning the Courant and its standards for however long this story lingers but it’s important that we all know that our own journalistic and ethical standards have not, and will not, be compromised or altered by our relationship with the subject, whether it’s an advertiser, a powerful politician or even a former colleague.

*

Anyone who would like to discuss this sensitive subject further, should contact Jeff, Naedine or Lynne.

Gombossy has responded to this response. You can read it here.

Sleepy’s: The bedbug column The Courant refused to publish about its prime advertiser [Connecticut Watchdog]
Hartford Courant Losing Its “Watchdog” [The Laurel]

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