Lifting from Other Sources

Following my recent post on Michael Jackson’s anti-Semitic rant, Ynet have published an article on the same topic. And I suspect that Ynet have actually lifted it from me.

Oh, the arrogance of the man, I hear some of you scoff. And you may be right. After all, Ynet are a large media outfit, and certainly have more resources at their disposal than this humble blogger. So why is it that I am coming out with these suspicions?

I have my reasons.

Fact 1: I published my post at 6:09PM. Ynet published their article at 9:36PM.

Fact 2: Like me, Ynet mention the fact that Jackson’s audio message was two years old.

Fact 3: Ynet do not quote a source for their information, except for the New York Post. The Post article on the matter makes no mention of the message being two years old.

At the very least, it seems like Ynet have copied much from the New York Post. For example, consider the introductory paragraph in the Post.

Michael Jackson may love the children of the world – but he doesn’t like Jews, according to a blockbuster new audiotape that apparently captures the Gloved One waxing anti-Semitic to a former business manager.

And now Ynet:

Michael Jackson may be fond of children, but he is apparently not very fond of Jews, according to an audiotape aired Tuesday on ABC’s “Good Morning America” show.

This is either a matter of “great minds think alike”, or – more likely – “let’s just copy off some other great minds, and pass it off as our own story.”

Is this permitted according to journalism ethics? I welcome any real journalists to enlighten me.

Update: Of course, Ynet may have copied from USA Today, and not yours truly. But the point is that they have lifted the story from somewhere, without attribution. And this bothers me.

About the Author

An Australian immigrant to Israel, Aussie Dave has been blogging since early 2003.

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