Brief #4: Plagiarism and Fabrication

 When it comes to writing and producing content, plagiarism and fabrication are two of the biggest violations that could be committed. Committing one of these acts undermines credibility as well as misleads the audience or target group. Avoiding plagiarism and fabrication using honesty and transparency contrarily leads to trust which grows credibility and popularity over time.

When someone produces a piece of content, they are claiming it as their own. The act of producing content with stolen ideas or words with zero source or credit is where plagiarism accusations begin to enter the equation. Copying exact words or sentences or even paraphrasing someone else's writing can have serious consequences. In the academic world, plagiarism can lead to academic probation, failing grades, or even result in expulsion from the school or university. In the business world, plagiarism can result in losing ones' job as well as greatly ruin ones' reputation. To avoid these consequences, properly citing sources is a critical step every writer needs to implement into their writing to allow readers to verify information. 

An example of plagiarism and its consequences in the real world can be found at Rutgers University. Graduate student Amanda Serpico was accused of plagiarism in 2011 after she turned in her end of term paper over legislation for same sex marriage. The Turnitin software detected plagiarism and led to the extensive investigation on Serpico's paper. After attempted explanations claiming that the software was "wrong", Serpico was still ultimately given a failing grade for both the paper and the course as a result for her use of plagiarism. This is a key example in the academic field as to how detrimental plagiarism can be.  

Fabrication is a slightly different violation however, it's just as extreme. Fabrication accusations can take place when a writer or journalist produces false or misleading information and claims it's a fact. Inventing fake quotes, using false or nonexistent sources, or changing data or statistics to match claims are all serious examples of fabrication in writing. Consequences are just as extreme for fabrication in comparison to those faced due to plagiarism. Jobs can be lost, classes can be failed, and most importantly: reputations can be permanently damaged.

An example of fabrication taking place in journalism occurred with the New York Times. In 2003, Jayson Blair was accused of fabricating details in numerous articles he had written. He included images of scenes that never happened as well as words from quotes that were never said. Blair resigned soon after the accusations which all but confirmed the accusations and damaged the reputation of the paper. The New York Times was also forced to re-evaluate its editing process as a result.

Plagiarism and fabrication are serious violations that damage reputation and credibility. Using the truth by citing correct sources and simply being honest in academics, journalism, or business is the best way to gain popularity and trust with an audience. The examples of Amanda Serpico and Jayson Blair show the serious repercussions that take place when these actions are committed. By avoiding these two writing crimes altogether, writers can ensure their work remains ethical and trustworthy.