| Sajha.com Archives | |
| Username | Post |
| ashu | Posted
on 10-May-03 10:42 AM
I dedicate this posting to all the Nepali editors and senior journalists who do NOT take the issue of plagiarism seriously enough in Nepal. *** Times Reporter Who Resigned Leaves Long Trail of Deception A staff reporter for The New York Times committed frequent acts of journalistic fraud while covering significant news events in recent months, an investigation by Times journalists has found. The widespread fabrication and plagiarism represent a profound betrayal of trust and a low point in the 152-year history of the newspaper. The reporter, Jayson Blair, 27, misled readers and Times colleagues with dispatches that purported to be from Maryland, Texas and other states, when often he was far away, in New York. He fabricated comments. He concocted scenes. He stole material from other newspapers and wire services. He selected details from photographs to create the impression he had been somewhere or seen someone, when he had not. And he used these techniques to write falsely about emotionally charged moments in recent history, from the deadly sniper attacks in suburban Washington to the anguish of families grieving for loved ones killed in Iraq. In an inquiry focused on correcting the record and explaining how such fraud could have been sustained within the ranks of The New York Times, the Times journalists have so far uncovered new problems in at least 36 of the 73 articles Mr. Blair wrote since he started getting national reporting assignments late last October. In the final months the audacity of the deceptions grew by the week, suggesting the work of a troubled young man veering toward professional self-destruction. For more: (FREE registration required) http://www.nytimes.com/2003/05/11/national/11PAPE.html oohi ashu ktm,nepal |
| Suman Pradhan | Posted
on 10-May-03 08:02 PM
Thanks Ashu for the posting. I have followed with interest the Jason Blair case in the NY Times. The central issue here is - 1) newspapers have to trust thier reporters/editors. 2) reporters/editors should never breach this trust either with their newspaper or with thier readers. 3) and most importantly, when plagiarism or concoction is detected, newspapers have to deal with it forcefully, and as the NY Times did, publicly. Many of you in this site will no doubt argue that nepali newspapers are lacking in all these departments. I agree. But please understand that we too are evolving and trying to learn from our past mistakes. Though we at The Ktm Post have instituted various steps to minimize plagiarism, that does not guarantee that future slips will not occur. But we now know how to deal with it. The only question is: whether we deal with it publicly or not. cheers suman |
| isolated freak | Posted
on 10-May-03 08:15 PM
Though we at The Ktm Post have instituted various steps to minimize plagiarism, that does not guarantee that future slips will not occur. Namaste Suman Pradhan jyu, May I ask, what are the steps taken by the Ktm Post to ensure that plagarism is minimized to the most possible extent? Looking forward to reading more of your pieces. |
| isolated freak | Posted
on 10-May-03 08:16 PM
wow a hatrick thread? |
| dangggg | Posted
on 10-May-03 08:31 PM
guys, I just found out that NYT is going to pulish a apology letter to the readers in front page of tomrrow's issue. The letter wil also include the list of the palgerized artice published in prior issues. BUT, question here is: will that apology regain the readers' trust on the paper????? Tyahi, "always asking BS questions" dangggg dangggg@hotmail.com |
| Biswo | Posted
on 11-May-03 01:31 AM
The case with Jason Blair sounds very interesting. The reporter is young[27], younger than a lot of posters here. He went there as an intern, and because of his writing talent, and because of his minority background, he impressed the bosses there, and the bosses there quickly promoted him to a reporter. Normally, most of the journalists make it to the NYT or other national media institutes after working hard in local TV stations, and regional newspapers, after learning virtues and norms of journalist world, and after shining locally. Mr Blair wasn't subjected to that rigour. US organizations/corporations are on constant hunt for star reporters/star workers. That benefits both corporations, and the workers.Mr Blair however didn't turn out to be a star, despite enormous faith put on him.It is a fact of life: there are Einsteins, and there are Lysenkos.One needs to be vigilant consistently to separate people of these two types. NYT, when faced with the mountains of evidence against him, didn't shy away from investigating him, penalizing him, making the result of its findings public despite knowing that those reports would be used by conservative media in USA against the Times.[Fox News is rerunning it again and again, in case anyone is interested about it.] Down the road, this incident will only make the Times stronger, and readers faith on the great institute will be strengthened. As Buddha long ago said, one of the mantra for nirvana is: Satyam Sharanam Gacchami. |
| ashu | Posted
on 11-May-03 07:14 AM
Hi Suman. In our informal on-and-off guff-suff in Kathmandu over the past two years, I have always found you to be very serious about this issue of plagiarism. Kudos to you and to some of your colleagues who have, in your own ways, done what you could to wipe off the proven plagiarists from your newspaper, The Kathmandu Post. I agree with you that much still remains to be done in Nepal. But it's only by taking small steps now that we can go on a longer journey later. I posted this NYT news in that spirit -- to share ideas and views, and to learn from how those among the best in the world struggle to keep their house in order. oohi ashu ktm,nepal |
| intruder | Posted
on 11-May-03 04:33 PM
This issue has gotten so much attention it was just broadcasted in NBC nightly news. Mr Blair fabricated his stories so far that he went on to report former POW Jessica Lynch's house as "over looking the tobacco farm" without actually stepping foot in the state of West Virginia where her house is located. Mr Blair may be saying goodbye to his short lived relationship with NYT, but he may have a bright future in fictional writing. |