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Editor Gets Punchy Over Article—Literally

'2nd worst story' ever pushes vet Post hand to violence

By Harry Kimball,  Newser Staff

Posted Nov 2, 2009 3:59 PM CST
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(Newser) – An editorial dispute in the Washington Post newsroom devolved into fisticuffs last week. The item was for the Style section, a department long known for taking an anything-goes attitude toward its reporters. When the story crossed the desk of veteran editor Henry Allen—grumpy about his part-time work and the current state of journalism—he didn’t like what he saw, Washingtonian gossip guru Harry Jaffe reports.

“This is total crap,” Allen reportedly said, bringing a young writer to tears. “It’s the second worst story I have seen in Style in 43 years.” Another reporter on the story, veteran Manuel Roig-Franzia, took umbrage. “Oh, Henry,” witnesses say he told Allen, “don’t be such a cocksucker.” That apparently pushed the 70-year-old Vietnam vet over the edge, and he tackled Roig-Franzia. Executive editor Marcus Brauchli separated the two and had a talk with Allen, whose contract is up in a month. Writes Jaffe: "Few Style writers expect to see him again."

The Washington Post building.
The Washington Post building.   (AP Photo)
The Washington Post newsroom.
The Washington Post newsroom.   (AP Photo)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 6 comments
Unaffiliated
Nov 3, 2009 2:42 AM CST
I'm not an Old Media fanboy, that's for sure. But I have to couch my Newser fanboyism by pointing out their bias when I think it's influencing their reporting too much. Yes, I read it. And I think it's laughable that Newser thinks they're so high and mighty.
bewilderbeast
Nov 3, 2009 2:13 AM CST
Um, unaff: TWP should be very grateful Newser is (slightly) slowing its demise. And, of course, the clincher: YOU READ IT! Har.
bewilderbeast
Nov 3, 2009 2:12 AM CST
You beat me. I was going to say "Such style!" LOL

 
Washington Post • reporter • Vietnam veteran • editor • Marcus Brauchli • newspaper industry • fistfight • Henry Allen • Manuel Roig-Franzia

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