Once Again...

Editor`s Note: This editorial ran June 13, 2005. Unfortunately two recent events show that the message needs to be repeated.

POACHING AND PLAGIARISM

Poaching is, "to take by unfair or illegal methods; stealing." Plagiarizing is to take writings from another and passing them off as one`s own. Plagiarism, like poaching is seldom punished. Plagiarism, unlike poaching is not a clandestine activity, it provides the evidence by its nature, printed in black and white.

Plagiarism has become a problem in schools because the internet and word processors make it easy to "cut and paste" ideas and whole sentences with just a few key strokes. However, teachers and editors can use computer programs to identify stolen sentences and passages. The textbook used by the Cedar Key School Journalism class says, of plagiarism, "In most classrooms, students are failed for this offense; in the newsroom, reporters are fired for it."

It isn`t just in schools that plagiarism occurs. Recently a well known historian admitted that he had taken other historians` work and published it as his own. Plagiarism also occurs in the newspaper business. Writing under deadline or having failed to attend a meeting creates the need, consequently some journalists rewrite published accounts and present it as their own work.

Effective with the June 16 print edition of Cedar Key News all articles are copyrighted, with all rights reserved. We extend to other publications the privilege, with prior written permission, of publishing our articles verbatim, provided credit is given to Cedar Key News and the author. Furthermore, the Society of Professional Journalists` Code of Ethics says that journalists should expose unethical practices by journalists and news media. Cedar Key News will try to live up to that ethical standard by pointing out future examples of plagiarism.