Plagiarism doesn't get you fired... it can get you to quit, though

I can't believe that I missed out on this story. Maybe I should blame my current telenovela binging. But then again, I watch the usual infotainment shows like Inside Edition, Entertainment Tonight, Insider and numerous HLN programs, and yet, I have to depend on CNN's Reliable Sources to report on Gerald Posner's recent resignation from The Daily Beast.

Mind you, I am not a regular follower of The Daily Beast. And I didn't necessarily have an opinion on Gerald Posner, although I did notice that he was seemingly all over HLN, MSNBC, Hollywood 411, and other infotainment shows adding to the already muddied waters associated with Michael Jackson's death. I will say that I was getting pretty annoyed with seeing his face damn near every single day since June 25th. And the introductions the show hosts would give him... hyperbolic, much? Especially given that some of the information he gave was eventually discounted.

At any rate, he's getting his @$$ chewed out, right now, but you know it won't last. Over the last few years, journalists who committed huge boners continue to get TV gigs with very little mention of their tendency to get their facts wrong. Sure, people can make mistakes (that's why pencils have erasers... blah, blah, blah) but the infinite number of chances doesn't make sense, especially when news agencies refuse to dig deeper before hiring and rehiring these people. Honestly, is it really fair to give Posner a hard time for lifting copy from the Miami Herald when the majority of Diane Dimond's investigative repertoire for Entertainment Tonight consists of standing on easements outside of court houses and private residents and repeating headlines featured on the cover of the National Enquirer?

Plagiarism should be taken seriously, but so should flagrant lying and showboating. Because like Posner, many like Nancy Grace, Jane Velez-Mitchell Lisa Bloom, Chris Jacobs, Robin Sax, etc. have legal backgrounds, not necessarily journalistic backgrounds and yet, there are placed in a position of 'reporting' when they are used to giving analysis. Analysis and interpretation have their place, but if you are placed in a position that implies that you are responsible for delivering facts, the line continues to get muddied. Add to it the tendency to be pro-prosecution and the concept of balanced reporting flies out of the window.

Unfortunately, the large media outlets will continue to hire these questionable people with plump resumes for the sake of expediency. Look for Posner to take root in a high profile 24/7 news outlet very soon.