Out-of-control youthful indiscretion might be the best way to view what happened to young writer Jay Forman, who more than likely was given more journalistic luggage than he could swim with.
Foreman was writing for Slate.com when, in 2001, he posted a highly colorful story titled, simply, "Monkeyfishing." This story got him fired from further work for Slate.
His first-person account told of an island, Lois Key,on which researchers had created a colony of rhesus monkeys, left there to breed for future use in research projects.
The story told of a boat trip to that island, where from the boat, "fishermen" used heavy tackle to cast fruit-baited hooks in the direction of the monkeys in order to hook them in the manner of hooking fish.
Young Mr. Forman expressed shock at the cruelty of the practice and no doubt assumed that animal-rights activists and other readers would feel likewise. The story was filled with convincing detail.
Respected Washington Post columnist Michael Kinsley, who is Slate's founding editor, began to question the story. Eventually, Forman admitted the the entire account was fabricated and that it contained a few other irregularities, as well. Thereupon, Forman and Slate parted company. There actually were monkeys on Lois Key, but they have been removed due to the embarrassment of the Forman affair.
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