What Ray Rice and Plagiarism Have in Common

By: Abby Rechel
abbyrechel@gmail.com

Craig Silverman's article about the "Summer of Sin" brought to my attention that plagiarism, fabrication and obfuscation is still very much alive today. Not only are journalists getting caught, they are damaging their careers and the publications in which they were once employed. As freshmen, we were warned the first day we stepped on the beautiful bricks of Athens that in Ohio University's Student Code of Conduct, there is zero tolerance for plagiarism. That rule does not just disappear when a graduate steps foot into the real world. It is important to take this law seriously in any career and setting.

Silverman lists multiple journalists and publications at fault in the "Summer of Sin Chronology." To just name a few, Journatic, New Canaan News, Wall Street Journal and NPR plagiarized and fabricated information and other materials. To a college student, it is hard to comprehend that professionals committed such acts. After many of this instances were reported, other reporters asked each publication how and why these acts of plagiarism and fabrication took place. What did these reporters get in return? The dreaded, "No comment." from each and every publication.

The next question that arises is did these publications know that the information was being plagiarized before it was published? Did some think, "It's just one detail in an article, no one is going to catch that." Did publicists, editors, journalist and any other person involved take the risk to get away with it, only to be caught, admit to his or her mistakes and THEN be punished for it.

Although the "Summer of Sin" occurred in 2012, it brings to my attention a current hot topic. The termination of the Baltimore Raven's very own Ray Rice after the release of the brutal footage of Rice knocking out his then-fiancé and dragging her limp body out of an elevator. Before the video was released to the public, the Baltimore Ravens only suspended Rice for a limited number games. However, the same hour the video was released to the public, the Ravens tweeted that Ray Rice was released from the team.

It is obvious that the Baltimore Ravens were trying to brush the issue under the rug in hopes that the public would forget the "small mishap." The tables turned as soon as the public caught wind of the real story. Does this occur at publications as well? It is hard for me to believe that plagiarized articles that are edited and reviewed by multiple people do not seem a tad suspicious. Is it possible that editors "let it slide" at times? Unless of course, a journalist is caught after the plagiarized article is published in which punishment is THEN given to the plagiarizer.

Silverman makes an interesting point,

"But when a news organization is unwilling to face up to an incident of plagiarism, fabrication or a major mistake and be accountable, then other organizations and institutions in society are emboldened to do the exact same thing when a crisis strikes."

This truthful statement is much like the one Keith Olbermann fiercely explains in his news segment about Ray Rice's actions. Entitled, "In The Ray Rice Situation, Everyone Must Go," Olbermann makes innumerable valid points as to how the Baltimore Ravens staff and administration should be let go, or else Ray Rice's actions and the way the truth was kept secret is seen as acceptable.

"Each (person involved) mislead the public, damaged the efforts of every man and every woman in this country seeking to merely slow down the murderous epidemic of domestic violence, and made a mockery of the process by which those who batter those they claim to love are to be brought to justice." - Keith Olbermann, "In the Ray Rice Situation, Everyone Must Go."


In summary, Olbermann is saying that this action cannot go unpunished. If it does so, then the act is seen as okay. If those who plagiarize and get away with it are unpunished, plagiarism and fabrication will continue to circulate around our newsrooms.