Pulitzer Prize for Fraud

The Sacramento Bee just disclosed their investigation into the writing of one of their long-time columnists Diana Griego Erwin. Ms. Griego Erwin won a Pulitzer Prize in 1986 when she wrote for the Denver Post. I give the Bee credit for doing such a thorough investigation rather than sweeping it under a rug. Still what was discovered is disturbing.

When Diana Griego Erwin resigned last month amid controversy, I promised you a deeper review of her work as a Bee columnist.

In the accompanying story, we report the results of our investigation. The findings are troubling: We have been unable to verify the existence of 43 people she named in her columns. This doesn't prove these people don't exist, but despite extensive research we have been unable to find them.

We know that credibility with our readers is at the heart of what we do. That's why we put this investigation through two lenses: a management team and a team of award-winning investigative reporters.

Again kudos to undertaking this investigation. But why didn't anyone ever before raise some questions? Because of Griego-Erwin's reputaion based on her Pulitzer? Or was she a Stephen Glass like charmer who bamboozled the Bee's staff.

An internal investigation into the published work of former Bee columnist Diana Griego Erwin found 43 cases in which individuals named by the writer could not be authenticated as real people.

Griego Erwin, whose column ran three days a week on The Bee's Metro page, resigned May 11 after she failed to substantiate details from several recent columns. She has denied fabricating any information.

Forty three is a great many cases and this wasn't a 100% investigation of the writer's work. I do have to wonder if the demands of three columns a week was part to blame here. That doesn't condone what was done, but I have to question why those in management couldn't see that a work load like that could lead to a writer either taking short cuts or out right fabricating material to meet his or her work load.

Many of the columns in question fit a template: essays, often with a surprising O. Henry twist, about a singular person who faces a challenge and surmounts it. Their stories frequently reflect a theme taken from current headlines - wildfires, for example, or prison brutality, school shootings, murderous road rage or a high-profile trial.

Some are people with last names so unusual they don't appear anywhere in the United States. For example, a column that ran May 13, 1997, described Victor Budriyev, a Russian immigrant who lost his sweetheart to the bright lights of Los Angeles. The Bee could find no Victor Budriyev in the United States, nor a single citation for "Budriyev" in all of the massive Google search engine.

Some don't show up where they should: Donald Burton, a "barber" who is not on the state's list of licensed barbers. Margaret Brown, a "retired teacher" who is not on the rolls of the teachers retirement system. Others are described as longtime homeowners whose names do not appear on property records for their communities.

The O Henry like stories sound awfully like the Stephen Glass affair. Mr. Glass was known for his humorous anectdotes. Did Ms. Griego-Erwin's writing not get checked because it amused those at the Bee or fit their biases or political views?

As to the names. Budriyev of course is suspicious but the others could be a person who goes by their middle rather than first names. Plenty of people do.

a red flag went up when an editor asked Griego Erwin a routine question on April 23: What was the name of the tavern where she interviewed Anthony Romero, the bartender who was a focal point of the column?

Griego Erwin said she couldn't remember, although the interview ostensibly took place the evening before.

"Two weeks later, when we still didn't have the answer to that question, it raised more questions," Rodriguez said.

Eventually, Griego Erwin identified a bar she thought might have been the place. However, that bar did not employ an Anthony Romero.

A faulty memory after two weeks. I could see two years. Again why didn't anyone start asking questions earlier.

The column goes on to list specific instances of holes in Griego-Erwin's writing. No question the Bee did a thorough job and came forward to address the issue. I just wonder how many more Greigo-Erwins there are out there?

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