I don't buy that. He could have insisted on it, or chosen to write for another venue. He's as gutless as the rest of them.
Excuse me?
I believe writer of an opinion piece submits text. It is set up for publication by the editors. The author does not usually choose the photo used to illustrate his OP, and even if he did submit one, the editor censors or alters it without consultation.
I am not in the publishing business, but I do not see writers illustrating their own text.
IMHO, as I said, this was not Murphy's choice.
If you have any evidence to the contrary, please submit it.