Journalist Jayson Blair’s Plagiarism Scandal

Jayson Blair is a journalist that is broadly known not for his professional achievements but for the scandal of plagiarism and for showing an unprofessional approach to such a responsible job. The 2003 scandal of a plagiarizing New York Times writer has committed several acts of journalistic fraud. In their statement, New York Times wrote: “The widespread fabrication and plagiarism represent a profound betrayal of trust and a low point in the 152-year history of the newspaper” (Correcting the Record, 2003). He was fabricating content and interacting with editors from his Brooklyn home — or inside the Times building rather than from his supposed location, according to an internal investigation. With dispatches, fake statements, and staged scenes, he fooled readers and Times colleagues.

The scandal severely damaged The New York Times’ credibility, as it has become a major ethical issue across the journalistic world. Journalism, in general, has suffered one of the most significant blows to its reputation in American history, with Jayson Blair’s fabrication. The journalist has betrayed the basic codes of conduct and professional responsibilities, which are significant ethical issues. Blair engaged in unethical journalism, fooling the editors and, most importantly, readers multiple times, not only at Times but also at his previous places of employment. Thus, the case with Jayson Blair is a clear representation of highly unethical journalist behavior.

Real-life plagiarism in schools and universities may also have significant consequences for a person. I personally know a person who was expelled from the university for multiple plagiarism incidents. Several warnings of such behavior consequences did not stop the student from engaging in such behavior, which was immediately noticed and acted upon. The school board took an immediate decision to expel the student without further ability to reinstate his persona in the school. Therefore, in any setting and profession, plagiarism is a serious ethical crime, which if not criminally gets punished through social isolation and reputation damage.

References

CORRECTING THE RECORD; Times reporter who resigned leaves long trail of deception. (2003). The New York Times. Web.