Student paper stealing quotes

I confess that in my salad days I stole quotes. Not because I thought it was an easy way for me to get the story done and into the bar quicker, but because my editors told me it was okay to take quotes from the big paper in town. I did it for a year, then I realized on my own (since nobody at the school paper was going to do it) that it was wrong, and I stopped (they didn't, but fuck 'em).

It's possible that whoever is stealing your quotes is getting some real shit advice from people who should know better but don't (or choose not to know because they just don't care).

 

do not delay confronting the reporter, student editor or advisor. this needs to be taken care of right away. he's a student. it's a lesson. unfortunately it might lead to the end of his journalism career before it even got off the runway but he has to learn.

post back and let us know what you did and what result you got.

 

I would go to the advisor... if a student was caught lifting answers on a test, they'd have to answer for it to a dean or someone in a given department. Why is this different?

 

Actually, it is different because many college papers do not offer the kind of structure and proper advisement that a student has in class. The kid should know better, but he may not. I say call him first and give him a chance to go to his editors and advisor and try to make amends.

Then call the advisor to find out if he did it. If not, fuck him up as much as possible.

 

Sorry, but plagarism is basic journalism. Kid should have to have his hand held to know that its unethical and illegal.

 

I would pull the kid aside and ask him where he got the quote... If he owns up to stealing your stuff, tell him not to do it again without crediting your paper... If he does it again, call his editor.

I had a similar experience happen to me several years back. I was the only person at a game and magically the quotes I got from a one-on-one with the coach wound up in a Monday edition of the five-day-a-week paper that was in town.

I went nuts and found out later than the SID took the quotes from my paper and sent them out in a "release" that the other papers got.

My point is... Proceed with caution...

 

OK, then get the "releases" from both SIDs and look for the quotes. If they aren't there, then there is no excuse for what the kid did.

 

It's unimaginable the shit some college students do. I hated being the editor of a college paper.

 

Thanks for all your thoughts on the subject.
And to the person who said I can't threaten anybody's journalistic life if I have to drive seven hours to a game, you're probably right.

Update: I spoke with the school's media relations guy who was at the game to see if there was any other way this kid could have possibly gotten those quotes. I was told no. His office made no player quotes available to other media.
The SID called the newspaper general manager who agreed that the quotes had been stolen. The GM said that individual would not be seen covering that team home or away for awhile.
As long as the kid knows what he did was wrong and he is disciplined for it, I'm satisfied.

 

You handled the situation properly.

 

Is it any different, though, when the student reporters are following you around to every interview and never asking any questions — just taking the quotes you get?

That always irks me a little.

 

Agreed, tho I probably did it in pack coverage in college too.
However, at least they were there and making an effort.