Radio New Zealand conducted a review of broadcasts by presenter and commentator Noelle McCarthy, after concerns were raised about alleged unattributed use of other journalists’ work. Commentators called the similarity between three McCarthy essays and articles from overseas newspapers ‘‘compelling’’ and ‘‘disconcerting’’. The similarities were discovered by the Sunday Star-Times, when it Googled transcripts of the broadcaster’s work, after rumours began circulating in media circles. McCarthy was exonerated by the RNZ review, but others believe she got off lightly.
Is plagarism a significant breach of professional standards? Or in a world saturated with self-publishing, is copying words and ideas without acknowledgement both inevitable and acceptable?
It is proposed that any journalist who plagiarises others' work should be dismissed from their job