L.A. Times Columnist Michael Hiltzik Uses Fake Names in Blog
Written by commonsensejournal on April 21st, 2006A blog by a Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist from the Los Angeles Times has been suspended due to ethical violations.? Apparently he defended his own columns and posts with pseudonyms like “mikekoshi.” Patterico, the Los Angeles blogger and county prosecutor found this out by noting that the IP addresses of Hiltzik and “mikekoshi” were the same. Read more about it.
Howard Kurtz of the Washington Post reports
The paper said in an online editor’s note that Michael Hiltzik, a Pulitzer Prize winner who writes the Golden State column, had admitted posting remarks on both his Times blog and on other Web sites under names other than his own. The Times said it is investigating the matter. Editor Dean Baquet declined comment, and Hiltzik said he could not comment.
It’s one thing to write under a pseudonym, but another thing to deceive readers by defending your column with fake personas. Hiltzik should have just commented on the posts himself, under his own name.
