Only in its new iteration would this strange-but-true development take place at The Courant.

Jim Romenesko has the details on the hiring of the latest new advertising director, Michael Guinan.

Here is an excerpt from Ken Gosselin and Eric Gershon’s original piece in The Courant following Guinan’s sale of Hartford Magazine:

“Now, nine months later, Guinan’s company, Marketing Resource Consultants, still owes
money to a list of creditors, mostly self-employed free-lancers who provided photographs,
illustrations or articles for the old Hartford magazine.
In 2007, Guinan was hit with at least 11 legal actions against him or his company, claiming
non-payment of more than $360,000 in total – including a$207,187 printing claim that Guinan
contests. The other suits sought money for back rent, loan payments, artwork, articles and
other services.”

He was later reported to be slowly paying off his debts, and to have been fired from Hartford Magazine following the discovery of “financial irregularities.” A lawsuit followed, alleging he improperly diverted funds.

I bet that didn’t appear on his resume.

Anyway,  who says there’s no firewall between the News Department and Advertising?