Peter Berdovsky, Next Chapter

A Herald story on Peter Berdovsky, he of the "Aqua Teen" marketing mess, is an exercise in journalistic knee-jerkism. It also might explain why younger people are abandoning newspapers in droves.

Let's break down the tape.

Herald lead: A dreadlocked street artist’s effort to cash in on last year’s light-board bomb scare has one high-ranking Hub official vowing she’ll reach into the jokester’s pockets to grab a share of any profits for the city.

Dreadlocked. With a wink, the writer delivers a message to his loyal readers. Obviously, with that look, this guy has to be a questionable character. Because, you, loyal reader, wouldn't want some dreadlocked guy - don't they listen to Bob Marley and wear clothes made of hemp - taking your daughter out on a date.

Cash in. So an artist's attempt to make art out of what was clearly a pretty fascinating public situation is simply an easy way to make money. What's funny is that this Associated Press story, which seems to be at least mildly disgusted with Berdovsky, makes it clear that he has no money. But wait, didn't we know that... he's an artist!

What's great about this story, as well, is that clearly the Herald feels as if it got "beat" by the Associated Press, so it needs to advance the "news" by adding in Boston City Council President Maureen Feeney. As the story tells us, she likes to scoff.

“He continues to poke a finger in the eye of the people of Boston,” said Feeney.

And...

Feeney "said the city should “share in the profits” of any sales."

Take another pause. Didn't the city already get $2 million from Turner Broadcasting? And isn't there still some question about whether the city overreacted?

But finally, we have to ask ourselves about Berdovsky. Is he supposed to stop being an artist? Or, at least, is he supposed to sign an agreement not to make art that might reference the incident or, even better, be in any way controversial.

Maybe he should just make stuff like this: