A new low in journalism: The News copy-pastes Dawn story

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 27 November 2019

A recent incident has brought attention to ethical standards in journalism after The News was found copying a story from Dawn. The oversight has led to internal discussions on editing practices and accountability.

Summary

ISLAMABAD — The level of journalism fell to a new low — The News copy-pasting a story published in Dawn on its back page.

However, the genius at The News who filed the story and the one who subbed it did not remove the word “Dawn” from it.

The story about the win of PTI leader Barrister Sultan Mehmood in a Mirpur by-poll was published online on Dawn’s website on Sunday evening. It was reproduced as it is in The News on Monday morning, with the words “while speaking to Dawn…”

Tariq Naqash, Dawn’s correspondent who had filed the story, pointed out the brazen cut and paste. “This story on the back page of today's @thenews_intl about election of #AJK#PTI chief Barrister Sultan Mahmood in Sunday's bypoll in #Mirpur is copy-paste of my story that appeared on @dawn_com the same evening. Even the word #Dawn has gone unchanged. There's craft in daubing.”

This story on the back page of today's @thenews_intl about election of #AJK#PTI chief Barrister Sultan Mahmood in Sunday's bypoll in #Mirpur is copy-paste of my story that appeared on @dawn_com the same evening. Even the word #Dawn has gone unchanged. There's craft in daubing pic.twitter.com/wS12ngXyZp

— Tariq Naqash (@TariqNaqash) November 26, 2019

Talat Aslam, Senior Editor of The News, was embarrassed. “Very embarrassing and unethical. This kind of plagiarism is unacceptable. We are investigating and action will be taken.”

Naqash was unforgiving. He reminded Talat that editing and subbing at The News is a waste of time. “Since the story has been attributed to Agencies, the newspaper can be absolved of plagiarism. However, editing/subbing seems to be a waste of time at your desk, or else at least words like "talking to Dawn" would have been omitted.”

KEY POINTS:

• The News copied a story from Dawn without changes.
• The issue was highlighted by Tariq Naqash, a correspondent for Dawn.
• Talat Aslam, Senior Editor of The News, expressed embarrassment over the incident.
• Investigation into the matter is ongoing.
• Concerns have been raised about the quality of editing and subbing at The News.