While browsing some of the articles written about baby boomers online last week, I came across one titled, Superwomen of the Baby Boomer Generation. The title drew me in so I began to read. I was immediately struck and shocked to learn that the words might be mine. My heart began pounding as I read on. Oh my gosh. This is my article. It can’t be. Wait. I broke out in a little sweat as I continued, finding every word too familiar.
I went to my Word docs and pulled up the article it resembled and printed it. Then I printed the article written in the Morris Sun Tribune and put them side by side. Checking off every paragraph as I went through, I quickly learned I had been plagiarized. All but one paragraph had been cut and pasted, then published in this rather large Minnesota publication.
I got up and walked around a bit considering what to do. Picking up the phone, I quickly punched in the number to the paper. No answer. Too early. I left a message sharing what had happened. I felt like a rat. Why did I feel like a rat? I just felt rotten ratting someone out, but this was wrong.
I later received an email from the editor stating they couldn’t totally understand my message and would I be kind enough to call again or respond to the email. He stated that they take plagiarism very seriously.
I checked the words again because I really couldn’t believe this was happening. Yep, it was the honest truth.
My knees became weak as I realized I probably was going to be the cause of someone losing their job. But wait. Why should I feel sick? I’m not the one who cheated.
Long story short, I spoke with the editor who never had anything like this happen in his many, many years in his position. He would speak with the publisher, the writer would lose her job, and he wanted to know what action I was going to take.
All of the sudden I was in the middle of something I wanted nothing to do with.
I simply shared that I had no malicious intent. I wasn’t interested in suing. I didn’t intend to get her fired. All I wanted was for them to call her bluff. But it doesn’t work like that. Stealing someone’s words is serious business. I couldn’t retract my ratting out.
I didn’t want him to have to print a retraction because I didn’t want to put them in a bad light. I thought it might be a good opportunity to have them write about the association and get a little media attention. I thought that was fair, so I said, “How about doing an article about the association?”
He stated that was most generous on my part, but they had to print a retraction. Again, I felt like the rat.
In the end, the writer lost her job and the retraction was printed this Saturday with a bit of information about the association, plus my photo and the NABBW logo was included.
Have you ever been plagiarized, and if so, what did you do?
18 Comments
Very interesting…”yes” I have been plagiarized and I did nothing! It was a fellow author and it was from my book, “Trading Ashes for Roses” about helps and hints for caregivers which was reprinted word for word into a well-known magazine (which will remain nameless). I prayed about it and then remembered what my wise mother-in-law always said to me, “What goes around comes around.” And then to quote a verse, “Vengeance is may says the Lord.” Was I upset? “Yes!” Only because for my little book I had to seek 250 permission releases which took a total of six months of hard labor…I left no stone unturned. I keep those permission releases in a vaulted safe (in case of fire). I sought out a publishing attorney at the counsel of my publisher because there was medical information contained in the book (total cost: $262 per hour!), which my publisher would not pay for. As my publishing attorney explained to me, “This is a litigious society; you can’t be too careful.” Umm…I thought, “That’s interesting!” And just yesterday, someone copied my guidelines to my book proposal that I had online for a compilation book; she changed the title, but the guidelines were verbatim. Was I angry? No, I just felt “stupid.” I knew better. But I’ve moved on and now I’m writing another book, and I won’t be posting guidelines on the web. Live and learn! I’m so trusting of people (my greatest fault and my best asset). So that’s my answer. Pray hard, give God the praise, and move on!
Connie, now I feel worse. It was such a shock to see it, but I knew it was wrong. I really didn’t want her to lose her job, but that seemed to be the proper protocol.
Why haven’t you contacted the person about stealing your book proposal?
I didn’t mean to make you feel worse, Dotsie! It’s always a shock when you see your words stolen, but I learned in the Christian writing world especially–we’re about 200 strong; a very close-knit community. Look at the Christian books being written (about the same 200 people writing and the same 200 people endorsing each others’ books). It’s a small, small world! I was told that from day one and it has proven true.
I’m probably the wrong one! I think it takes more “forza” (Italian phrase–meaning strong) to stand up and tell someone they’re wrong than not to do anything. It’s called “confrontation” which I’m not really good at.
You shouldn’t feel badly; you stood up for what you believed was right. Everyone has to do what they feel comfortable in doing. In my case, I knew the person (and I guess they felt justified!). As far as the book proposal, the guidelines were posted on the web (my fault!); they weren’t protected by a copyright (although my publishing attorney has a different slant on that one). This is how I deal with things: If it gets me that upset, it’s not worth it. I have to pick and choose my battles very carefully: no one died and I have enough creative energy to come up with something else. Every book has already been written anyway; I’ll just come up with a different slant and twist.
And by the way, Dotsie, you had no way of knowing the consequences of what would happen to that writer (that wasn’t your decision!).
BIG HUGS!
Connie, I am not big on confrontation either. I had no idea what the outcome was going to be. I just knew it was wrong and she needed to know that someone knew what she was up to.
I’m not sure what you mean by what you learned from the Christian writing world… Do you mean that it’s okay for all of you to use one antoher’s works?
Hey Dotsie,
You absolutely did the right thing. You are only responsible for telling the editor what was done. You are not responsible for his hiring or firing policies, or his response. He has those in place because the ethical workplace is his to nurture and protect. The writer placed him and the magazine or newspaper in jeopardy. You responded with grace. You extended grace to both the writer and the newspaper. He has to carry out his policies, and for good reason.
Suzie
Thanks Suz. My intention was only to inform. The rest was up to them. But do you know how rotten I feel about her losing the job? The good news is that she was not a staff writer. She was a freelancer who had written plenty of articles for them so I know she is hurting financially right now. That doesn’t make me feel so good. Sigh…
Miss Connie, my boomer friend, isn’t it hard to carry on a conversation in text? Ayee! We need tone and facial expressions and the little smiley faces just don’t carry enough weight. : )
Copyright is more than the little symbol at the end of the article. It’s ownership. Years ago it was changed, and if you write something on paper, or on the computer, it is yours and it is copyrighted. But in the electronic world we have to let people know what is open content and what is not. Many copy and paste and then add the author’s link and byline.
But if someone took something and put their name on it, then they have stolen and misrepresented, and that’s a very different matter. One that should be addressed, if only privately.
Ah, the world of publishing. : ) It’s fun. It’s complex. And sometimes it’s just downright hard.
Blessings to my two boomer friends. I’m truly sorry that these individuals took what was yours and made it their own.
Naughty!
Again, Dotsie, (and remember this is from soft-spoken, tender-hearted Suzie) this person harmed not only you, but could have harmed an entire newspaper and staff and reputation. You aren’t responsible for her firing. She is responsible because she stole something that wasn’t hers and put her name on it. The editor had no choice.
Connie, people reprint articles of mine on thier sites all the time. But like Suz said, they include my byline, etc. and that is totally cool with me. But when someone takes your work and puts their name as the author, that’s a different story.
I really think you should touch base with the person who stole your guidelines and book proposal. What are they thinking? It’s so unfair. Do you know this person too?
Dotsie
You did the right thing. Truth matters. That woman stole something–would you want a thief to get away with it? She stole something precious–your carefully crafted words. She took what you created and put her name on it. She not only should get fired, she should write you a note of apology. You totally did the right thing–very graciously, I might add. As a former newspaper reporter, the watchwords of our industry were “accuracy, accuracy, accuracy!” and that includes not only the article, but the byline as well!!!
Unless the people who are caught at plagerism have to face the consequences, there is no way to put a stop to the problem.
I’m not sure that I would have discovered plagerism in the way you did. I’m more likely to read an article that I think is interesting and then be surprised when I reach the bottom and realize that my own name is there.
Keri, I didn’t know you were once a newspaper reporter. Did you love it?
Timothy, I know what you mean. Isn’t it wild to read something you wrote months ago and wonder how you did it?
Dotsie, anger or not, you did what’s right. You say that she’s a freelancer and has written many articles for this publication. You may just be the first person who has actually caught her stealing your work. You have no way of knowing whether or not she has been doing this for a long time. If she has, then catching her in the act is a service to many writers. If she hasn’t then she will, hopefully, have learned from this experience. But you aren’t the one who has to make sure she has. You did the right thing.
Flea, thanks. It still makes my heart pound when I think about it. I can’t stand the fact that she lost her job, but it reaaly is to protect all of us writers.
It’s her fault she lost her job, not yours. Yeah, I was a reporter, for nearly 10 years. I loved that job!! I know lots of people accuse “the media” of being biased, but the papers I worked at, we saw ourselves as protectors of truth, really. And accuracy, being able to document things, or having more than one source for info, was huge.
I miss reporting, altho I still use those skills for writing books and articles for magazines. And I would absolutely never steal someone’s words. And if someone stole mine, and was a freelancer, I would be contacting every magazine she writes for to let her editors know. I guess I am not as nice as you but if I were an editor and hiring someone, I would SO want to know if that someone was a thief. To have plagarized stuff on the pages of your publication puts your credibility at risk, it reflects poorly on the publication.
I am angry for all of you…how unfair that people have taken advantage of such wonderful, trusting women!
There should be justice for illegal actions.
If people break the law, the consequences are no one’s fault but there own.
Don’t feel guilty…YOU have done nothing wrong.
Keri, thanks for sharing your opinion as a reporter. I considered looking at the rest of her articles posted online to see if they were stolen from one of my associates who writes on the same topic, but I’m ready to put it to rest.
Terry, thanks for the vote of confidence. I just never thought I would never have anything to do with someone being fired.