Gothamist: Braunstein's Diaries: Crazy, Calculated, Or Both?

Jen Chung

Wed, 09 May 2007 22:19:44 -0500

Thanks, steve m. I tend to use "suspected," "accused" and "alleged" in posts like this, but in this case, Braunstein and his lawyers don't deny that Braunstein committed the crimes. Their argument is that he's so mentally ill that he cannot be found guilty (it's a stretch in my book).

steve m

Wed, 09 May 2007 22:13:54 -0500

Just a note of caution. When you write this: "The trial of Peter Braunstein, the journalist who sexually assaulted a colleague for 13 hours in 2005 ..." ... you are libeling the guy, and potentially opening yourself and your publication to legal action. After all, the point of the trial is to determine whether he has actually done this. It's easy enough to write "... the journalist ACCUSED OF sexually assaulting ..." which is more accurate and keeps you legally safe. It's a good habit to get into. The AP Stylebook has a concise and useful section on libel and slander that would be worth a reading. I enjoy your blog daily. It lets me live in NYC vicariously.

cc

Wed, 09 May 2007 20:23:34 -0500

tool of the highest degree.

edEx

Wed, 09 May 2007 19:10:15 -0500

guilty. now execute and lets move on.

DaveH

Wed, 09 May 2007 18:27:59 -0500

Self-aggrandizing, self-congratulatory, and self-incriminating. Perfect. The jury could probably not hate him more now. Good luck slack-jawed drooler!