Fla. St. beat writer resigns amid plagiarism charges.

[Evil ... Thy name is Orville Redenbacher!!]

Tallahassee Democrat beat writer Natalie Pierce quit after plagiarism charges arose.

The Democrat published a very short and dry article about what happened.
Earlier this week, it came to our attention that a story in the Tallahassee Democrat and on Tallahassee.com by Florida State sports reporter Natalie Pierre appeared similar to a story written by freelance writer Tim Linafelt.
After investigating further, we concluded that it was too similar to be pure coincidence, that pieces – at least — of the story were plagiarized. Pierre resigned and no longer will report on behalf of our news organization.
Pierre gave her own statement on her website. In it, she profusely apologies but also avoids specifics about the story in question.

http://deadspin.com/florida-state-beat-writer-resigns-after-plagiarism-char-1641861865

 

[LongTimeListener]

Was that wrong?

 

[BDC99]

Seems like she might be taking the approach that she did it by accident, forgetting to rework or delete something that was copied from the original story?

 

[Doc Holliday]

This is why you don't read other people's work if you're doing a story that someone else has already done. And, if you must read them, get a hard copy or print a hard copy. But you sure as hell don't copy and paste their story into your notes.

In my 22 years in this business, more than half covering college athletics, I've never made anything close to that kind of mistake.

I would like to say this is just someone being dumb, but I think it's more on the side of someone just being lazy.

 

[BDC99]

And where were the quotes from? Guess they were quoted after the game? And both writers were present for all the interviews. Can't really tell, and Tallahassee link is no longer valid, apparently.

 

[Tarheel316]

This is why you don't read other people's work if you're doing a story that someone else has already done. And, if you must read them, get a hard copy or print a hard copy. But you sure as hell don't copy and paste their story into your notes.

In my 22 years in this business, more than half covering college athletics, I've never made anything close to that kind of mistake.

I would like to say this is just someone being dumb, but I think it's more on the side of someone just being lazy.

You nailed it with that first sentence.

 

[Riptide]

This is why you don't read other people's work if you're doing a story that someone else has already done. And, if you must read them, get a hard copy or print a hard copy. But you sure as hell don't copy and paste their story into your notes.

In my 22 years in this business, more than half covering college athletics, I've never made anything close to that kind of mistake.

I would like to say this is just someone being dumb, but I think it's more on the side of someone just being lazy.

You nailed it with that first sentence.

Second and third sentences, too.
Really, does any plagiarist's "explanation" ever sound plausible?

 

[Steak Snabler]

The last part was interesting:

Pierre, who says she joined the paper three years ago, wouldn't be the first young reporter to accidentally use another's words, and so far this looks like this was her first offense. So why did Pierre resign? The Democrat article doesn't say, but Pierre's own statement alludes to separate newspaper woes factoring into her decision.

My decision to resign from the Democrat came in part because of the current climate of the newsroom. The majority of my former co-workers were all required to re-apply for their positions on Monday and Tuesday, while I was exempt from the process that will result in a number of great journalists being laid off.

So while the Gannett-owned paper started yet another round of what will likely turn into layoffs for journalists, it also was looking into the allegations of plagiarism by Pierre, who was on the short list of people who got a free pass to stay. That perhaps says everything you need to know about the Democrat.

Sounds like she could have kept her job if she had fought for it, but figured she'd be persona non grata if she stayed around. Hey, at least she doesn't have to cover Jameis Winston anymore.

 

[Dick Whitman]

I don't understand how she can say she didn't intend to plagiarize him. It seems like more of a case of not understanding what plagiarism is.

As a side note, and semi-related, while researching a piece over the last couple weeks, I came across material that wasn't plagiarized, but instead added dramatic details that were not in the source material. For example, in the source material, an autobiography, the player dryly describes approaching his coach. In the piece that uses the autobiography as a source, it explains that "his heart jackhammering as he walked up to his coach." And that's not isolated - there are a lot of dramatic embellishments like that.

I'm not sure which is worse, plagiarism, or that kind of misrepresentation, which is basically making **** up. But one is a career-ending sin, the other gets you a book deal.

 

[YankeeFan]

I don't understand how she can say she didn't intend to plagiarize him. It seems like more of a case of not understanding what plagiarism is.

As a side note, and semi-related, while researching a piece over the last couple weeks, I came across material that wasn't plagiarized, but instead added dramatic details that were not in the source material. For example, in the source material, an autobiography, the player dryly describes approaching his coach. In the piece that uses the autobiography as a source, it explains that "his heart jackhammering as he walked up to his coach." And that's not isolated - there are a lot of dramatic embellishments like that.

I'm not sure which is worse, plagiarism, or that kind of misrepresentation, which is basically making **** up. But one is a career-ending sin, the other gets you a book deal.

Maybe he was wearing a heart rate monitor, and only this one journalist was aware of it.

 

[RecoveringJournalist]

How long has The Democrat been a Gannett paper?

 

[Steak Snabler]

How long has The Democrat been a Gannett paper?

Since 2005. It was Knight-Ridder for years before that.

 

[RecoveringJournalist]

When I started my weekly NFL notes column, I sat down with the higher-ups to discuss how not to give the impression that it was 100 percent self-generated. I used the SP Times as my example, figuring if it was good enough for Poynter, it would be good enough for us. They would credit the paper where the quote was gotten from and have a line at the end saying, "Information from other NFL beat writers was used in this report."

They had no concept and no understanding of it and my SE was a former NFL writer, who knew better, but was playing dumb. Finally, I said, "You know what, I'm just going to generate this completely on my own."

I absolutely did not trust those idiots no matter how many places I gave credit. At my previous paper, they took out all credit and said, "Everybody knows how notes columns work."

 

[BurnsWhenIPee]

The last part was interesting:

Pierre, who says she joined the paper three years ago, wouldn't be the first young reporter to accidentally use another's words, and so far this looks like this was her first offense. So why did Pierre resign? The Democrat article doesn't say, but Pierre's own statement alludes to separate newspaper woes factoring into her decision.

My decision to resign from the Democrat came in part because of the current climate of the newsroom. The majority of my former co-workers were all required to re-apply for their positions on Monday and Tuesday, while I was exempt from the process that will result in a number of great journalists being laid off.

So while the Gannett-owned paper started yet another round of what will likely turn into layoffs for journalists, it also was looking into the allegations of plagiarism by Pierre, who was on the short list of people who got a free pass to stay. That perhaps says everything you need to know about the Democrat.

Sounds like she could have kept her job if she had fought for it, but figured she'd be persona non grata if she stayed around. Hey, at least she doesn't have to cover Jameis Winston anymore.

Sounds like a horse**** rationalization from someone who got busted committing journalism's biggest sin, and wants to go out without all the bad attention on her.

"Yeah, I plagiarized, but look at how mean the company is being ... to everyone else!"

If she had any self-respect, she would have resigned when the Newsroom of the Future bull**** information first came out and the newsroom climate changed. Instead, she waits until she got busted copying the work of others before deciding to walk away and deflect the reasons why.

Real stand-up ***** you've got there ...

 

[Doc Holliday]

The last part was interesting:

Pierre, who says she joined the paper three years ago, wouldn't be the first young reporter to accidentally use another's words, and so far this looks like this was her first offense. So why did Pierre resign? The Democrat article doesn't say, but Pierre's own statement alludes to separate newspaper woes factoring into her decision.

My decision to resign from the Democrat came in part because of the current climate of the newsroom. The majority of my former co-workers were all required to re-apply for their positions on Monday and Tuesday, while I was exempt from the process that will result in a number of great journalists being laid off.

So while the Gannett-owned paper started yet another round of what will likely turn into layoffs for journalists, it also was looking into the allegations of plagiarism by Pierre, who was on the short list of people who got a free pass to stay. That perhaps says everything you need to know about the Democrat.

Sounds like she could have kept her job if she had fought for it, but figured she'd be persona non grata if she stayed around. Hey, at least she doesn't have to cover Jameis Winston anymore.

Wrong. No way in hell she keeps her job. She plagiarized someone for Christ's sake. This was her way of deflecting accountability and responsibility elsewhere.

She was told to resign just like Brady Hoke will be told, too.

 

[Versatile]

If you're any good on your beat, particularly in the Internet era, you would never write the same feature story as your competition ran the day before.

 

[Double Down]

I don't understand how she can say she didn't intend to plagiarize him. It seems like more of a case of not understanding what plagiarism is.

As a side note, and semi-related, while researching a piece over the last couple weeks, I came across material that wasn't plagiarized, but instead added dramatic details that were not in the source material. For example, in the source material, an autobiography, the player dryly describes approaching his coach. In the piece that uses the autobiography as a source, it explains that "his heart jackhammering as he walked up to his coach." And that's not isolated - there are a lot of dramatic embellishments like that.

I'm not sure which is worse, plagiarism, or that kind of misrepresentation, which is basically making **** up. But one is a career-ending sin, the other gets you a book deal.

Maybe he was wearing a heart rate monitor, and only this one journalist was aware of it.

Athlete Heart rate monitor zones (for descriptive sports writer use only):

1. Pretty chill. Maybe it's an off day or a bye week and you've just smoked marijuana (Please see: Kevin Ward exception). Your heart is thumping at a unhurried pace like the last 2 minutes of drums from "In the Air Tonight" by Phil Collins

2. Heightened. Did the GM just give an anonymous quote disparaging you? Think Bonham in "When the Levee Breaks."

3. Nerdy anxiety. You're trying to do math problems on the fly while the idiot in the other dugout, probably Ned Yost, bunts his way to victory. A four chambers pumping like Neil Peart in "Tom Sawyer"

4. Pounding. Derek Jeter just asked if you want to film a three-way with him, Mila Kunis and Scarlett Johansson while Bernie Williams stands in the corner and plays a sax solo, but only if you respect the process. Your heart is basically Meg White on bones in "Seven Nation Army"

5. Jackhammering. You accidentally took a swig of Chris Davis' coffee trying to chase a hangover you got from attending the Kentucky Derby with Wes Welker. Your heart is basically the the drums from Green Day's "American Idiot."

6. Tachycardia. You're probably rounding second trying to leg out a triple after a night of doing cocaine with Dwight Gooden or Diego Maradona. You may be minutes from death. Your heart is basically the backbeat from "Wipeout" by The Ventures.

 

[Steak Snabler]

The last part was interesting:

Pierre, who says she joined the paper three years ago, wouldn't be the first young reporter to accidentally use another's words, and so far this looks like this was her first offense. So why did Pierre resign? The Democrat article doesn't say, but Pierre's own statement alludes to separate newspaper woes factoring into her decision.

My decision to resign from the Democrat came in part because of the current climate of the newsroom. The majority of my former co-workers were all required to re-apply for their positions on Monday and Tuesday, while I was exempt from the process that will result in a number of great journalists being laid off.

So while the Gannett-owned paper started yet another round of what will likely turn into layoffs for journalists, it also was looking into the allegations of plagiarism by Pierre, who was on the short list of people who got a free pass to stay. That perhaps says everything you need to know about the Democrat.

Sounds like she could have kept her job if she had fought for it, but figured she'd be persona non grata if she stayed around. Hey, at least she doesn't have to cover Jameis Winston anymore.

Sounds like a horse**** rationalization from someone who got busted committing journalism's biggest sin, and wants to go out without all the bad attention on her.

"Yeah, I plagiarized, but look at how mean the company is being ... to everyone else!"

If she had any self-respect, she would have resigned when the Newsroom of the Future bull**** information first came out and the newsroom climate changed. Instead, she waits until she got busted copying the work of others before deciding to walk away and deflect the reasons why.

Real stand-up ***** you've got there ...

Yeah, quit your job on principle when there are thousands of people in your field out-of-work. Go for it, hero.

 

[Dick Whitman]

I don't understand how she can say she didn't intend to plagiarize him. It seems like more of a case of not understanding what plagiarism is.

As a side note, and semi-related, while researching a piece over the last couple weeks, I came across material that wasn't plagiarized, but instead added dramatic details that were not in the source material. For example, in the source material, an autobiography, the player dryly describes approaching his coach. In the piece that uses the autobiography as a source, it explains that "his heart jackhammering as he walked up to his coach." And that's not isolated - there are a lot of dramatic embellishments like that.

I'm not sure which is worse, plagiarism, or that kind of misrepresentation, which is basically making **** up. But one is a career-ending sin, the other gets you a book deal.

Maybe he was wearing a heart rate monitor, and only this one journalist was aware of it.

Athlete Heart rate monitor zones (for descriptive sports writer use only):

1. Pretty chill. Maybe it's an off day or a bye week and you've just smoked marijuana (Please see: Kevin Ward exception). Your heart is thumping at a unhurried pace like the last 2 minutes of drums from "In the Air Tonight" by Phil Collins

2. Heightened. Did the GM just give an anonymous quote disparaging you? Think Bonham in "When the Levee Breaks."

3. Nerdy anxiety. You're trying to do math problems on the fly while the idiot in the other dugout, probably Ned Yost, bunts his way to victory. A four chambers pumping like Neil Peart in "Tom Sawyer"

4. Pounding. Derek Jeter just asked if you want to film a three-way with him, Mila Kunis and Scarlett Johansson while Bernie Williams stands in the corner and plays a sax solo, but only if you respect the process. Your heart is basically Meg White on bones in "Seven Nation Army"

5. Jackhammering. You accidentally took a swig of Chris Davis' coffee trying to chase a hangover you got from attending the Kentucky Derby with Wes Welker. Your heart is basically the the drums from Green Day's "American Idiot."

6. Tachycardia. You're probably rounding second trying to leg out a triple after a night of doing cocaine with Dwight Gooden or Diego Maradona. You may be minutes from death. Your heart is basically the backbeat from "Wipeout" by The Ventures.

This made me laugh.

In all seriousness, if someone doesn't say he was nervous, you don't assign it to him. Same thing with the 30 other such embellishments in there. I'm reading and say, "Wow, this is great stuff! Where was he finding this?! I suck compared to this guy!" Then I go to the source material he cites, and it's nothing like it.

 

[Liut]

When I started my weekly NFL notes column, I sat down with the higher-ups to discuss how not to give the impression that it was 100 percent self-generated. I used the SP Times as my example, figuring if it was good enough for Poynter, it would be good enough for us. They would credit the paper where the quote was gotten from and have a line at the end saying, "Information from other NFL beat writers was used in this report."

They had no concept and no understanding of it and my SE was a former NFL writer, who knew better, but was playing dumb. Finally, I said, "You know what, I'm just going to generate this completely on my own."

I absolutely did not trust those idiots no matter how many places I gave credit. At my previous paper, they took out all credit and said, "Everybody knows how notes columns work."

I would have been frustrated beyond belief with the situation you have described. Sounds like you handled it well.