Story 1: Plagiarism

Plagiarism is a journalist’s sin that is easier to commit than ever before.  In today’s newsrooms the trend is feature stories, which involve many interviews and plenty of note-taking to get the full story.  These stories, which are more involved than traditional news reports, are still demanded by specific deadlines.  With the invention of the Internet and the popularity of personal computers, it can be tempting to hit the copy-and-paste button. If you’re found guilty? YOU’RE FIRED!

This was the message portrayed in Chip Scanlan's article, "The First Peril: Fabrication," as he provides his insight and suggestions to avoiding the trap that is fabrication.  Some of these suggestions include:

• Checking and rechecking facts.
• Ensuring your story is coming from multiple sources that are trustworthy.
• When in doubt?….ATTRIBTUTE!
• Avoid laziness and do your own research.
• Always remember: Your editor would rather you miss your deadline than tarnish the reputation of your organization and yourself forever.

In his article, Scanlan even describes the characteristics of the typical fabricator. 

“If there is a profile of the kind of writer who fabricates and plagiarizes, it’s an ambitious and desperate, often – but not always – young reporter, anxious to succeed and often in over his or her head,” said Scanlan.

Considering the stereotypical description of a college student is young, ambitious but also lazy, this is a must-read article for aspiring young journalists.  You will walk away from this article with the understanding that there is more to lose than your income after plagiarizing a story.  Scanlan advises journalists to value their integrity and even more importantly provides direction on telling a story without fabrication.