Columbus Dispatch editor: Cartoon, column similarity ‘appears to be a coincidence’

Romenesko Misc.
Ben Marrison has responded to my e-mail about his editorial cartoonist’s Sunday drawing being similar to Andy Borowitz‘s column three days earlier. The editor writes:

We investigated Mr. Borowitz’s allegation yesterday and today. What we know is that [Dispatch cartoonist] Jeff [Stahler] created the cartoon Wednesday, submitted it Thursday (the same day Borowitz’s piece appeared), and published it Sunday. Jeff was not familiar with Borowitz’s piece until Borowitz himself brought it to our attention. It appears to be a coincidence.