a question about plagiarism

[rainbowmoon]

I was just wondering about something..

If plagiarism is not only copying an idea as I've been instructed (not only word for word), how is it that when the AP releases an article within an hour hundreds of smaller papers will have almost the same EXACT articles up (almost word for word in some cases).Is that not plagiarism?

[hollyvangogh]

Originally Posted by rainbowmoon

I was just wondering about something..

If plagiarism is not only copying an idea as I've been instructed (not only word for word), how is it that when the AP releases an article within an hour hundreds of smaller papers will have almost the same EXACT articles up (almost word for word in some cases).Is that not plagiarism?

I think that's a matter of them printing the article with permission. Check the byline on the articles. It usually lists the AP.

[rainbowmoon]

Nope these are actually all rewritten pieces I am talking about with almost the exact info., usually almost word for word. No byline. Usually it is breaking news stories I notice it the most with. I will try to come back with some examples later on!!!

[hollyvangogh]

Originally Posted by rainbowmoon

Nope these are actually all rewritten pieces I am talking about with almost the exact info., usually almost word for word. No byline. Usually it is breaking news stories I notice it the most with. I will try to come back with some examples later on!!!

That is weird!

[rainbowmoon]

Here is an example...albeit not a great one. Usually I see it more in celebrity news. I will try to post some more as I find 'em. I have seen this repeatedly though and it bugs me for some reason!

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/...waz9AD98DDU5O2

http://www.brookfieldnow.com/news/45985227.html

http://www.todaystmj4.com/news/local/45981792.html

I realize this isn't word for word but the IDEAS and formatting are just so much the same. The first two articles basically have almost the same last sentence word for word about the parade being canceled!

I am betting this is more acceptable in the news field than say the magazine field.

[stik]

The AP is a wire service that other newspapers subscribe to. Paying their subscription fee gives them the right to reprint AP stories, which is when you see the "AP" byline. Maybe they also have the right to reprint stories without a byline?

[rainbowmoon]

Yes but the ones who have paid it usually says (AP) at the beginning of the article or something at the end. I think that is required legally.

I guess there are only so many ways to report a news story with limited info. is my thought. (these aren't reprints as it's not exactly the same but rewritten material you know they got the info. from the AP wire)

[eastkygal]

I write press releases and feature articles all the time for DH's business that we send to various newspapers. Never have they printed what I wrote with my name under it. Always, some staff writer without talking to either DH or myself writes the piece again using whole paragraphs of my writing word for word with a re-written beginning and end... sometimes they cut paragraphs. Then, they put their name on it. It always reads weird and you can tell it comes from two different writers, but... it's free press for DH so we don't complain. I think that it is plagiarism. I just believe that if everyone took it seriously there would be a crazy amount of time spent stopping it.

[misskitty]

The truth is that there aren't that many new ideas people come up with. That's why everything is basically the same topic rewritten in lots of different ways. I certainly agree with eastkygal that it would take a huge effort to combat plagiarism.

If you read several things and rewrite it in your own words, you should use a works cited source at the bottom of the article. If you quote directly, then you may use footnotes showing the exact source.

I have heard of people that say plagiarism is when you copy three words. Does it really make sense? Not really. I think the main thing is the point of your actions. Are you trying to steal their stuff or are you willing to credit the source?

[russsk]

I have seen wire services plant deliberately incorrect info in articles, I assume so they can see who is copying their work without attribution. For instance, they might say that such and such happened in x city, 53 miles from y city, when in fact 53 miles is nowhere near correct. I see it so much and from numerous wire services that I have to believe its deliberate. It's always a minor but specific detail like that.

[allgirls]

Press releases are sent to the press with the information required for a story..they are for "release" and can be rewritten in any way you like and credited to whoever rewrote them.

AP releases are the same...telling media of the news, not stories, you can make news into a story but news is news same as if I ran into the newspaper office and said "hey, there's a fire down the street" and gave them all the details and they went out and took a photo and wrote the information as a story under their name.

A feature story submitted as such for publication as is under the name of the author, rewritten without permission by a staff reporter and published as theirs is absolutely plagiarism.

(I used to work for a community newspaper)

[*MamaJen*]

Originally Posted by eastkygal

I write press releases and feature articles all the time for DH's business that we send to various newspapers. Never have they printed what I wrote with my name under it. Always, some staff writer without talking to either DH or myself writes the piece again using whole paragraphs of my writing word for word with a re-written beginning and end... sometimes they cut paragraphs. Then, they put their name on it. It always reads weird and you can tell it comes from two different writers, but... it's free press for DH so we don't complain. I think that it is plagiarism. I just believe that if everyone took it seriously there would be a crazy amount of time spent stopping it.

I second what allgirls said about press releases. And yeah, I've seen some pretty bad press release rewrites. Unless I totally rewrite a press release, I don't put my byline on it, though. We just say "Staff reports".