The Dirty P Word and How to Stalk a Political Candidate

Oh that P word. I think it was back in 9th grade, when you first start to write research papers, that I first heard the word plagiarism. There was a whole class period devoted to what plagiarism. But then when I got to college I was surprised that my journalism professor had to discuss plagiarism. I just assumed that if you were going to be a good credible journalist you would not steal other people's work. I guess I was naive. This week's reading discusses whether taking quotes from other articles without citing the source is really plagiarism. In my mind it is. If you did not get the quote yourself then you should cite the source. However, I believe that if you didn't not get the quote yourself then you really shouldn't put it in your article because it was already printed. I know that sometimes it is hard to come up with quotes and live up to the expectations of your editor but there is a real danger with using already printed quotes.
First of all, what if that quote is not true. Sure you are citing the newspaper that originally printed the quote but you are also reprinting it, reaffirming the quote's truth. Requoting can spread lies very quickly.
Secondly, it can really ruin your credibility as a journalist, and the credibility of the paper you are writing for. Readers what the facts and honest work.
The issue with John Merrill and the cancellation of his column is a debatable issue. He did plagiarize but was it necessary to pretty much ruin his career by canceling his column and tainting his name forever? I think that the editor of the Missourian should have made Merrill apologize for not citing the author of the quotes but not cancelled his column. However, I do understand that the editor probably felt that it was his obligation to set standards for the school and allowing the column to still be print would have gone against those standards. I think the moral of the p word story is to not plagiarize because that p word just brings trouble where ever it goes.

The other reading dealt with tips for journalists who are writing about politics. Now, my friends are always very surprised with my ability to find people and information about people. I just tell them I learned it in journalism class. Journalists have stalker-like techniques and that what makes them so crafty. Basically the other reading was an article with hundreds of links to find dirt on political candidates. When I was looking at all the different types of information you can find on a candidate, remind you they are human beings, I started to feel a bit weary of whether it was "politically" correct to print. But then again, political candidates are people that may be in charge of a country some day, and in that case the public should know everything about them and their intentions. The public just has the right to know. So then, I bookmarked the article.