01.03.24
Harvard's President Claudine Gay has stepped down from her position as a result of facing mounting examples of plagiarism in her scholarship papers. The press, as expected, has opinions.
Artisanally-Crafted Narratives – CNN
It is not the thing she's accused of doing, it is simply what she did that she is accused of doing…we…think?
To say the press is struggling mightily to explain away and defend Claudine Gay is an understatement. The effort by so many in the press to avoid leveling anything approaching accountability is mirthful, but the most amusing effort may be from CNN business correspondent Matt Egan. He attempts not to change the definition of "plagiarism" but the label on intellectual theft…we think:
We should note that Claudine Gay has not been accused of stealing anyone's ideas in any of her writings. She has been accused of sort of more like copying other people's writings without attribution. So it's been more sloppy attribution than stealing anyone's ideas.
So, it's not theft, it was just stealing. And to dismiss her acts here as just being "sloppy" makes it appear she occasionally slipped up when, to this point, it has been found that there are NEARLY 50 examples of Ms. Gay lifting from the works of others.
Bonkers explanation from CNN reporter Matt Egan on the Harvard plagiarism scandal:
— Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) January 2, 2024
"We should note that Claudine Gay has not been accused of stealing anyone's ideas in any of her writings. She has been accused of sort of more like copying other peoples writings without… pic.twitter.com/ONArO75NLE
Pounce of Prevention – POLITICO
Deflection and delusion are all the rage in the press as a result of Gay's resignation. Anything approaching a full-scale analysis of her scholarly "work" – or even a partial-scale analysis – is not a consideration. Instead, looking the other way is the standard practice, and yup, the journalists see those unseemly people on the other side actually commenting on the fact that the Harvard president was caught cheating – on just about everything she has written.
Well, if they were victorious does that not mean the press that refused to investigate her “lost”? https://t.co/F2w8h6hZgS
— Lie-Able Sources (@LieAbleSources) January 3, 2024
Democratic Custodial Services – THE NEW YORK TIMES
Explain to us again, how is a news outlet upset with another outlet committing journalism?
In its extensive rundown of items surrounding Ms. Gay stepping down, The Times does very little in the way of exploring the accusations and looking into her work. You know, to see if there is actual validity to the claims of plagiarism, or to ultimately disprove the charges. No, instead insinuations are the method used; "allegations," "controversy," and the like are littered throughout.
In one of the entries, it bears the heading "What to know about the latest plagiarism accusations." What The Times wants you to know: It does not like the outlet that committed journalism and researched her work to find examples of theft. What we are seeing here is The Times basically saying that The Free Beacon has been weaponizing journalism:
The accusations were circulated through an unsigned complaint published Monday in The Washington Free Beacon, a conservative online journal that has led a campaign against Dr. Gay over the past few weeks.
Presentation Paradox – ASSOCIATED PRESS
It seems that maybe what has the press so bothered is not that Harvard's president was made to step down, it is that she has been exposed by those who were committed to investigating, researching, and then reporting on the findings. Dastardly activity, that!
The Associated Press implies this is a pernicious tool used by bad-faith actors.
Harvard president's resignation highlights new conservative weapon against colleges: plagiarism https://t.co/GiVkT3LgUo
— The Associated Press (@AP) January 3, 2024
To help out the AP here – enforcing plagiarism on college campuses is hardly "new." You even declare in your very own piece that it has long been "a cardinal sin in academia." Also found:
American higher education, which prizes academic honesty, has long viewed plagiarism as among the most serious of offenses. Accusations of plagiarism have ruined the careers of academics and undergraduates alike.
Reporting on the Mirror – POLITICO
You all going out and committing journalism are making this journalist look bad!
One other source of contempt for what they have been doing at The Free Beacon was Jonathan Martin of Politico. On Monday, when the outlet reported on brand new instances of plagiarism spotted in Gay's works, Martin was clearly bothered by the fact that they were out journalism-ing, instead of sitting on their couches and stuffing their faces while watching the College Football Playoffs.
One of the louder critics of Ms. Gay and Harvard has been billionaire alumnus and trustee Bill Ackman, and when he shared the latest findings from the Free Beacon, Mr. Martin was clearly perturbed.
Everyone in country: Watching end of epic Rose Bowl
— Jonathan Martin (@jmart) January 2, 2024
Bill Ackman: https://t.co/nFmmDQs2K4
"Riffed from the Headlines" is Townhall's daily VIP feature with coverage of the deeply flawed aspects of journalism in the nation, where Brad Slager looks to bring accountability to the mishaps, malaprops, misdeeds, manipulations, malpractice, and manufactured narratives in mainstream media.
