American Journalism Culture

BY LORI ROBERTSON

The culprit behind the recurring clusters of plagiarism and fabrication scandals isn't just irresponsible youth or a few bad apples or the temptations of the Internet. It may be the newsroom culture itself.

ut of excuses? It sure seems like it. In the not-too-distant past, journalism sages, columnists and otherwise rational old people were quick to condemn the ethically lax, morally inept, not-able-to-handle- the-pressut e-of-the-hig-time "kids these days" as the root of the plagiarism and fah- ricatioD pioblem. Young journalists—whom one newspaper columnist I interviewed defined as anyone under the age of 40—can thank Stephen Glass and Jayson Blair for the slew of hlame-it-on-the-young diatribes. If only the problem were that simple. Since Glass' fictionaBzingwa s discovered in 1998, the journalism industry has continued to posit a numher of perfectly legitimate cures for the recurring spates of ethical transgressions: We need new ethics codes, a system of fact-checking, tougher editors who ask hard questions of reporters, lectures for new hires and, if all else fails, the latest plagiarism detection software. But as the recent round of cheating cases cropped up—a collection that included a wide airray of

August/Septeilriier 2005 the (J

culprits, from veterans and stars of the But those who espouse taking a look Today tapped to look at profession to those who claimed they at the journalism culture as a possible Jack Kelley's fabrications weren't really journalists—there was a cause of ethics ills say a fix requires and how the newsroom's decided lack of excuses put forth. No drawing clear distinctions between what culture may have whining ahout temptations of the is acceptable and what isn't, getting rid enabled a breach of ethics Internet. Little bemoaning the sad state of double standards and drastic inequal- to go on for so long. of youth. ity, and making accuracy as big a rally- Kovach agrees with the Has the search for why been called ing cry as beating the competition. What theory that the industry Bill Kovach ofF? Or is the industry ready to tackle a kinds of hehavior do newsrooms reward? has run out of excuses for much more difficult matter: the culture? What messages does that send? plagiarism and fabrication. He says if Nobody wants to hear this. "Culture" Bill Kovach, founding chairman of there is to be an ultimate solution, "who- is so new-agey, touchy-feely, some would the Committee of Concerned Journalists, ever's in charge of the newsroom is say "soft," awfully gauzy for a place as has heen in the news business for 50 going to have to create a culture and an crass, competitive and cynical as a news- years. He examined these issues closely atmosphere within which everybody room. as one of the main investigators USA knows this is not acceptable. You can't

The Unethical Timeline

A look at the journalism industry's recent spate of plagiarism and fabrication cases and other transgressions:

MiT Technology The Detroit Free news organizations Peter Gammons of The Boston Globe The Los Angeles The Atlanta Review removes Press announces and times when ESPN.com issues a says it will no Times says it fired Journal- two articles from its that it is launching Albom slightly "reader's note" longer use free- reporter Eric Slater Constitution Website by free- an investigation altered those explaining that he lance writer after his March 29 announces the res- lance writer into sports colum- quotes. On April 23, did not cite material Barbara Stewart article about Cal ignation of staff Michelle Delio nist Mitch Albom's the paper from Los Angeles who fabricated a State Chico frater- writer Al Levine, because the maga- work because one announced that Times reporter story on a Canadian nity hazing was saying he plagia- zine could not ver- of his columns, filed Albom andfour oth- Steve Henson in a seal hunt. The hunt found to contain rized passages ify the existence of April 1, reported ers would be disci- sidebar to one of was delayed a day numerous inaccu- from the Daytona sources or the events that didn't plined but did not Gammons' due to inclement racies, several Beach News- accuracy of the happen. Albom specify their pun- columns. weather, yet named and Journal and the articles. The review described two NBA ishments. Stewart reported unnamed sources Orlando Sentinel in subsequently found players in the that it had already that could not be two articles about source verification stands of an April 2 happened. Stewart verified, fabrica- the Daytona 500 problems in five NCAA basketball was not at the site tions and wrongly race. more of Delio's arti- game. The players where the hunt was attributed informa- cles. On May 9, were not at the to take place but tion. Wired News said it game, though they wrote as if she could not find had told Albom that were. sources in 24 sto- they would be ries Delio did for there. The Free the magazine. The Press' investigation writer told the MIT found no evidence Technology Review of similar decep- that she had tions but did deleted e-mails uncover several from her sources instances in which but that all of her the columnist did quotes were legiti- not attribute quotes mate. taken from other plagiarism u American Journalism Review <;oiilVoiiiiiiir ihf

cheat and stay here. The integrity of reporters). As long as news organizations sends a message that that's what ulti- everything we put into our report has to are prepared to allow competitive pres- mately matters." be guaranteed by everybody in the sures to he an excuse to ease up on Then there's the increasing pressure process.... You, each person, has a per- integrity, says Kovach, "it's going to keep to produce, produce, produce—in a 24- sonal responsibility for that.... And in happening." hour, multimedia news world of rampant the competitive world we live in now, Deni Elliott, who teaches media downsizing. "The more pressure that is there are enough people who are still ethics at the University of South Florida, put on journalists to produce more, faster, prepared to ease the rules in order not St. Petersburg, says the one thing the quicker, cheaper, the more the industry to be beaten on the big stories all the news business hasn't looked at in plagia- encourages cutting comers, which is just time." rism and fabrication cases "is what jour- another way of saying cheating," Elliott Newsrooms praise those who get the nalism as an industry does to promote says. stuff nobody else gets—a la Blair and cheating." She explains: "Things that It's a lot easier to blame youth or bad Kelley and who knows how many lesser- award the exact quote, the exact moment apples, sbe says. And we've tried that. known creative criminals (not to men- in terms of a picture,..if the focus is on Not so easy to look squarely at our own tion perfectly honest and splendid that tiny product, then I think that that culture.

Tampa Tribune USA Today The Sacramento The South Florida Chris Cecil, associ- Newsday reports American Executive Editor announces that Bee announces Sun-Sentinel says it ate managing editor that Alex Public Media's Janets. Weaver Tom Squitieri, a that Diana Griego has begun to inves- for the Daily Storozynski, editor "Marketplace" says in a statement staff writer, did not Erwin, a columnist, tigate the work of a Tribune News in of amNewYork, a radio program apol- that reporter Brad attribute quotes resigned during the high school intern Cartersville, free commuter ogizes for a June 13 Smith resigned from a 2004 paper's investiga- and freelancer, Georgia, is fired paper published by segment in which after fabricating Indianapolis Star tion of fabrication Nazish Ahmad, who after the Miami Tribune Co., Gabriel Wisdom, a part of an article on article that he used charges against used passages Herald alerted the resigned after offi- freelance contribu- the towing industry. in a March 28 her. The examina- from a March 7 newspaper that cials discovered tor, stole passages Smith wrote about piece. Squitieri tion ultimately Miami Herald arti- some sections of that his June 1 from Slate. a woman leaving a apologized and looked at Griego cle without attribu- CBcil's columns story contained "Marketplace" nightclub and dis- resigned. Erwin's work during tion in her May 18 were taken from unattributed pas- found five other covering her Jeep 12 years at the Bee story. The review Herald columnist sages from wash- similar instances, had been towed. and found 43 found that Ahmad Leonard Pitts Jr.'s ingtonpost.com. and Wisdom was While the car had sources that could used material with- work. Pitts, tipped Storozynski said his subsequently been towed, the not be verified. The out attribution in off by a reader to departure was due dropped from the woman was at columnist denied five of 10 of her the theft, had pin- to a conflict with program. He home that night and any wrongdoing articles. pointed eight Tribune Co.'s mana- claimed that he had lent the Jeep to and said she had instances of plagia- gerial style. was not a journalist 8 friend. quit because of rism. and was not aware personal problems. of journalistic stan- dards.

—Compiled by fabricationKara Wedekind August/September 2005 S7 (Joiitrnnting the Cultiue

he GoodWork Project is an A second student at the Georgetown report. (Griego Erwin, who denies wrong- investigation, spearheaded talk asked how he should respond to a doing, resigned from the Bee in May, cit- by three psychologists, that statement that he should always want his ing "personal reasons.") looks at how market forces stories to he on the front page—as if writ- It'd be tough to continually ask any T affect a person's abihty to do ing for any other part of the paper, which reporter if people they're quoting actually good work in many professions, including is where his stories were running, isn't exist. "Do you have to have those conver- journalism. The project acknowledges good enough. sations?" asks Russell Frank, a journal- that "noteworthy" and "ethical" don't I suggested he could interpret that ism professor at Pennsylvania State always rest in the same piece of work. As statement differently: that he should University and a member of the hoard of its Web site explains: "Of course, work can write for Al, regardless of what the story the National Society of Newspaper be good simply in a technical sense, or was; that any piece, well crafted, could be Columnists. Frank tries to picture a good in only an ethical sense, but the proj- a front-page contender. I was trying to reporter's response when asked if he ect is particularly interested in those per- boost his spirits. But is that what was really went to the places mentioned in a sons and institutions that manage to meant by the comment? story. "Well for ciying out loud," Frank realize hoth connotations ofthe descriptor Just look at the message sent by some says. "I wrote it. Of course I did." It's "hard 'good.'" of our former role models. Kovach notes to imagine what morale would he like in a How interested is journalism in both? that there was one little thread that con-^ newsroom where everyone was grilled" in How often is ethical work rewarded, as nected Jayson Blair, Stephen Glass and such a manner ahout every story they opposed to purely technical work? Jack Kelley: "Common to all three was wrote. In June, I spoke on a panel at the desire to give the boss what he But retooling the culture shouldn't Georgetown University to journalism stu- wanted, the desire to please," he says. mean turning it into the dreaded culture dents from around the country who were "Most of us consider that a fairly good of fear. Bringing about change is more participating in a Washington internship trait.... You gotta love a kid who wants to subtle than handing out a list of Five program. Some of their questions give me what I want." But that cEin be Accusatory Questions to Ask Every Good reflected an interesting view of the pro- dangerous, Kovach says, if an editor puts Reporter, and more time-consuming: It's fession. These students had already fig- such a person in a position where the only fostering an environment with high stan- ured out that accuracy and tantalizing way he or she can succeed is to cheat. dards that apply to everyone and a team- copy weren't necessarily soul mates. And What often goes along with that ele- oriented philosophy that we're all in this they were worried. vated status is lax oversight. Far from together. How do I deal with pressure from my being a misstep in a normally well-run The Detroit Free Press discovered a bosses to get information as quickly as ethical machine, this is standard journal- much more systemic prohlem than one possible, to scoop the competition, and istic practice. Some people are ahove the errant columnist when Mitch Albom's still be accurate? one student asked, as if law. detailed description in an April 3 column they might be mutually exclusive. The Sacramento Bee found out how of something that hadn't happened yet "The tragic thing is that often they're badly such double standards can come {and, in fact, never did) was approved by right," says Catherine S. Manegold, a back to hurt you when it couldn't confirm a number of editors. Copy editors were journalism professor at the existence of 43 people named in Diana under the impression they shouldn't do Emory University, visiting Griego Erwin's columns over her 12-year much to columnists' work, the paper professor at New York career at the paper. Her copy was full of reported in a May 16 story about its University and former detail, touching vignettes, perfect person- investigation ofthe Albom case. At a staff reporter at the New York alities; it sparkled. And in many cases, it meeting, the report said, "years of frustra- Times. There are a lot of appears, it was bogus. tion over perceived favoritism toward newsrooms, she says. "How could Griego Erwin's work have Albom tumbled out in a series of angry where that's a genuine escaped editorial scrutiny for so long?" the speeches." tension. Manegold's stu- Catherine S. Bee asked in a June report on its investi- Is anyone surprised by this? Is there dents often ask her what Manegold gation. Executive Editor Rick Rodriguez another way to reward star writers other they should do if put in a cited the columnist's elevated status and than telling the copy desk to lay off? situation where their bosses' demands her impressive journalistic credentials, Giving a great writer room is one run cotmter to ethics and accuracy. As a which included work on a team that won thing; leaving her out there on her own in reporter, "I sometimes held hack on even a Pulitzer at the Denver Post. "With a demanding situations is another. "Good telling an editor ahout a story until I high-profile columnist, especially with the editors frequently use the phrase, 'How knew I had really nailed it," she says, credentials present in this case, it is not can I help you?' " says Bob Steele, jour- adding that her students don't yet know first nature or even second nature to ask nahsm values scholar at the Poynter that reporters do have some control over them if the person they're writing about Institute, "and that's a phrase that we when they file a story. actually exists," Rodriguez said in the shouldn't reserve for the rookies."

38 American Journalism Review the (Iiiliure

Giving a great writer room is one thing; leaving her out there on her own in demanding situations is another.

Experienced writers need that support, And they're entering a profession tbat How do you create a culture tbat val- too, because newsrooms ask them to ven- is viewed more and more like a business ues all of it equally? A culture that pushes ture into what Steele calls "the class six and not—as it so lovingly was post- reporters to dig up scoops and attention- rapids"—the most difficult in white-water Watergate—as a vital part of a function- getting stories, write it all like tbe great sports. "If we're asking our columnists ing democracy. Manegold says tbe American novel, do it faster than seems and other writers to do really important, cultural attitude toward journalism is at humanly possible—yet not leave tbe difficult work on a continuous basis," be a low point, botb in tbe way tbe profession impression tbat playing strictly by the says, "just merely sending tbem out into is seen from tbe outside and also bow it's rules takes a back seat to tbat elusive star the metaphorical one-person kayak into viewed by some practitioners tbemselves. quality? the class six rapids with no safety and Her students are growing up in a genera- support system seems pretty unwise." tion wbere it's all about saturation cover- But creating a supportive, etbical cul- age and sensationalism. Tbey're S the title of his book sug- ture isn't just the job of editors. Tbe tone "surrounded by a different kind of jour- gests, Callaban sees a is set at tbe top—and tbe bottom line, say nalism or speed of journalism, and it's mucb broader cbeating many, bas played a leading role in sbap- really easy for young peo- trend in society at large. ing the news environment. ple to confuse tbe really While be acknowledges To the incredibly bigb pressures cheesy stuff and see it all Atbat bis commentary is somewbat specu- weighing on top columnists, Steele adds a as interchangeable." lative—"trends in unethical bebavior are less-obvious one: the pressure to make It's not just young peo- bard to document," be writes—be says money. "If a columnist achieves tbat star ple wbo can begin to have tbat "available evidence strongly suggests status," be says, tbat "has economic, a different view of the pro- tbat Americans are not only cbeating financial connections for the paper.... So fession. David Callahan, more in many areas but are also feeling editors and publishers may eitber inten- David Callahan author of tbe 2004 book less guilty about it. Wben 'everybody does tionally or unintentionally tighten the "Tbe Cbeating Culture: it,' or imagines that everybody does it, a thumbscrew on a columnist or a writer, Wby More Americans Are Doing Wrong to cheating culture has emerged." demanding greater productivity, more Get Ahead," says a focus on tbe bottom Leonard Pitts Jr., a syndicated compelling writing, more bang for tbe line creates problems witb etbics in many columnist who writes for the Miami buck." industries. Journalists, be says, feel tbeir Herald, says there's no way to know if Many news organizations are industry is being corrupted by money there's more malfeasance demanding more bang for fewer bucks, as pressures, wbicb lead to a broader cyni- in journalism today than budgets are trimmed, training and men- cism. "Tbe corruption of tbeir trade by in tbe past. But bis gut toring are nixed, time for long, heady money, by tbe profit motive, may create a tells bim tbere is. His talks on attribution is nonexistent. sense of, 'My profession is not so valuable, views ecbo Callaban s Catherine Manegold talks ahout "so wby sbould I value tbe trade so mucb?'" findings. *'I tbink it's a many different things weighing in on the Callaban said in an interview. cultural problem," says newsroom...all these little ways in wbich All of tbese forces, from tbe correctible Pitts, wbo learned in late comers are cut to get the product out." double standards to the seemingly insur- May that he had been tbe Leonard Pitts Jr. She particularly worries about younger mountable profit pressures, affect a news- victim of blatant plagia- reporters not getting tbe attention and room's culture. Tbere aren't easy fixes to rism. (Chris Cecil, an editor at tbe Daily guidance they need. Unless tbey're bring- tbese problems—some may not be fixable Tribune News in Cartersville, Georgia, ing witb them a strong core sense of at all—but they raise provocative ques- ripped off large swatbs of Pitts' often ethics, tbeir own personal sense of etbics, tions about wbat messages news organi- personal columns.) Tbere's cbeating in she says, "I think it can be a real mess and zations send about what tbey value. Is it pop music witb digitally altered sound, a difficult thing for young people to navi- speed? Or accuracy? Thoughtfulness? Or Pitts points out. Tbere's cbeating in gate right now." exclusiveness? sports witb steroid use. "It's get to tbe

August/September 2005 Confronting the Culture

"I take it overall as a very positive sign that each generation of journalists in my lifetime has continued to try to sharpen and strengthen the integrity of the work that they do."

goal line as fast as you can, and the Actually, they {and Americans of every rewards, at least in the short-term. Even means don't matter." other age) see the powerful doing a lot after Glass was exposed as a fi-aud, he Most of those interviewed for this arti- better. And doing better where it really notes, he netted a six-figure book advance cle didn't think journalism had experi- matters: in their bank accounts. The les- from Simon & Schuster. "Inequality," he enced an increase in cheating over the son that cheaters often win hasn't heen writes, "has also pulled us apart, weaken- years—or at least they said they were lost on the masses. Callaban's book deals ing our faith that others follow the same reluctant to say that—hut many see the with the rising inequality in the classes— rules that we do." cultural pressures to move up the societal the rich get rich, rich, richer, while those It'd be wonderfiil if the salaries for ladder playing a role. in the rank-and-file johs have a harder regular journalists increased, particularly One of the things and harder time making ends meet. in light of those student loans people are Susan E. Tifft has learned That's been the story for journalists as racking up to "get credentialed." You do, from dealing with stu- well. as they say, get what you pay for. If soci- dents is that "they have The sort of rewards today for top ety also stopped handing out six-figure had to fight so hard in this achievers in the profession didn't exist in advances to cheaters, we'd all applaud. credentialed society to get decades past, says Callahan, a senior fel- But short of making life fair, journalism where they are"—whether low at Demos, a New York-based public can at least work to make its individual that's Harvard or Susan E. Tim policy center. "All it takes to be a million- newsrooms fair and kick the ethically Stanford or Duke or what- aire in journalism is kind of playing your challenged out of the profession—some- ever—"that they have this notion that cards right in a certain kind of way," he thing the news business has done a much they have to do certain things and cut cer- says. You can be a hot, young writer who better job of than other industries. tain comers to get ahead." pens clever stories that lead to a TV show Callahan says he thinks in journal- Tifft, a former Time magazine associ- or a best-selling book. "The fact that those ism—unlike other businesses he exam- ate editor who now teaches journalism rewards are there, they can't help but ined—it's become harder to cheat because and puhlic policy at Duke University, says kind of distract us," Callahan says. "Huge the standards are much higher than they some students—not hers, because they financial rewards can't belp but distract were years ago. ("The proper question haven't talked to her ahout it—say," 'I can people from the integrity of their trade." isn't, TVhy is there more?' " he says. "But, afford to be ethical once I get to where I At the same time, he says, economic 'Why is there a lot?' ") need to go. But on the way there, every- pressures for the less fortunate are "What we're seeing is more demon- body else is cheating, everybody else is mounting. Journalism salaries haven't strations of journalists themselves insist- plagiarizing, so if I don't do it, then I'm gone up much over the past two decades, ing on tougher standards on themselves," stupid.'" The perception is: "I can't afford while the cost of living, particularly in Kovach says. "1 take it overall as a very to he ethical now, but 111 be ethical later." urban areas, has risen dramatically. (And positive sign that each generation of jour- The GoodWork Project cites the same the load of debt students take on to pay nalists in my lifetime has continued to try finding among the young, an attitude that for college has skyrocketed as well.) On to sharpen and strengthen the integrity of in order to be successfiil, to try to get to the one hand, you have the few lucky mil- the work that they do." the top, they should put their ethics on lionaires, he says, and "on the other hand, Kovach says he knows in his career hold. you have ordinary journalists who are there were instances of newsroom malfea- When young people look at what's getting squeezed more than ever. And I sance, some of which weren't treated happened in society, with Wall Street think that's a formula for bad ethics." harshly. The mere mention of a name, for executives, top politicians and others in In his book, Callahan touches on the instance, would make people say, "Oh, he positions of power, Tifft says, "they don't Glass and Blair scandals, commenting could pipe a quote better than anybody." see the adults doing much better." that both journalists' actions reaped (I've heard similar stories of life in the

40 American Journalism Review Confronting tbe Culture

newsroom way back wben, only to see an press release and publish it as if it were acceptable and wbat's not. "We shouldn't alleged embellisher praised by journalists the paper's own work. A local news sta- lie, steal and cheat," says Steele. "Tbose as a pillar of tbe profession. Wbat kind of tion can put a Video News Release on the actions violate tbe basic values and tenets message does that send?) air and allow the audience to be fooled of botb personal and professional bebav- "It was not accepted," Kovach says, into tbinldng the station produced it. ior. But plagiarism is a word tbat is not as "but there were no great pains taken to "Isn't tbat plagiarism?" Elliott asks. clear in its meaning as many of us oflen pin it down and bold people accountable, Tbere's confusion about journalism's tbougbt.... How mucb credit, to wbom well, because nobody else did." It may be own basic conventions, she says. And and wben?" can be a subtle question. tbe reason, be adds, tbat journalists were there's a tendency for news organizations Even "don't make stuff up" needs clar- so comfortable telling eacb otber, "Boy, to want audiences to give tbem as mucb ification, as tbe Albom episode sbows. don't ever let tbem see bow the sausage is credit as possible. "Both The sports columnist interviewed two made." Talk like that suggests a level of lead to a tendency to former Michigan State players shortly guilt and acceptability of gmlt, be says. downplay other sources of before tbe April 2 NCAA Final Four "That sort of thing is as much an indica- information," Elliott says. match-up between tbeir alma mater and tion of the elevation of standards as I can "So when you've got that Nortb Carolina. The men, botb NBA think of." kind of foundation...it players, told Albom tbey planned to Deni Elliott, too, sees a bright spot in becomes increasingly dif- attend tbe game, according to the Free all the state-of-the-industry gloom. A ficult to explain to some- Press, but in tbe end, they didn't. Neither cheating culture? She strongly disagrees. body wby tbey can't pick Deni Elliott did Albom. In a column tbat be bad to file "I think that the fact that we're.. .labeling up a really great quote" before the game took place, he described acts as cheating shows a greater level of and just drop it into tbeir story. tbe men in tbe stands and tbe scene at ethical sophistication," she says. "Once we At tbe Detroit Free Press, colum- the stadium. can begin to label sometbing as cbeating, nists, at least, were picking up great A fabrication? The Free Press didn't wbicb carries tbe sense tbat tbere's some- quotes and dropping them into tbeir call it tbat, opting to say Albom "misled thing wrong here, tben we can begin to pieces. {Tbe practice is hardly limited to readers." analyze what's wrong and why we tbink Detroit.) It was a journalistic conven- Of course, reporters usually don't it's wrong." tion, despite the fact tbat tbe paper's make up stuff witb tbeir editor's knowl- ethics policy vaguely warned against it. edge—do tbey? Tbe Free Press' review of Mitcb Albom's While newsrooms bave become stricter ^ he labeling may be the work found "deep confusion among edi- in cracking down on those who commit the hardest part. Most of the tors and columnists over bow to credit biggest sins of tbe profession, tbey haven't bigb-profile cases bave quotes in opinion columns wben those always been explicit enougb in explaining involved clear-cut instances quotes were gathered hy others." wbat's right and wbat's wrong—particu- T of reporters vmting about Then tbere was tbis alarming para- larly as some of tbe wrongs used to be figments of tbeir imagination, or pilfering graph in the Free Press' report; "At times, business as usual. Etbicists say tbat in large cbunks of otber people's stories. But quotes cited by Albom were worded fostering an etbical culture, actions speak tbe grayer areas—when to attribute, sligbtly differently from bow they a beck of a lot louder tban words. what's in the public domain, wbat's an appeared elsewhere in the media, with Tbe ancient Greeks believed that "one acceptable journalistic convention— tbe quotes seeming to be livelier in some learns to be a good person from other good remain fuzzy. cases. Asked ahout tbose quotes, Albom people," says Mark J. Hanson, interim "I do think that the profession is con- insisted tbe passages were 'essentially director of tbe Center for Etbics at tbe fused," Elliott says. "I tbink that tbe pro- accurate.'" University of Montana. "And today one fession has failed to draw a clear line Is tbat the standard we sbould follow? does tbat by looking up to either one's between legitimate use of what I would "I tbink it is a genuine and sincere parents or one's boss or tbe organiza- call common knowledge and use of infor- lack of clarity about wbat's right and tional culture and the leadership.... An mation somebody else developed, and I what's wrong," says Susan Tifft of the ethical culture is really set by manage- would call tbat plagiarism if it's used general confusion about wbat constitutes ment and really needs to be displayed and witbout citation." cheating. News organizations "just have fostered and encouraged in a positive way It's a journalism convention for news to be crystal clear and tbink of all the inci- by management." outlets to not cite tbemselves wben dents that arise, and bow they view Unfortunately, there's no simple set of repeating the same boilerplate para- tbem." Tbis is particularly necessary, she instructions on how to build the perfect grapb, sbe says. If information is puh- says, for yoiing and inexperienced jour- culture. But merely banding out an etbics lisbed in tbree or more sources, tbe nalists. code isn't going to cut it. C!i3 convention is that it's common knowl- But it's clear journalists of all ages edge. Small newspapers might take a and ranks have different views of what's Lori Robertson is AJR's managing editor.

August/Seplember 2005 41