2008 Woodie Awards
Cardinal Points fires incoming editor in chief
Cameron found to have plagiarized in review
Issue date: 4/27/07 Section: News
Originally published: 5/3/07 at 4:03 PM EST
Last update: 5/5/07 at 3:10 PM EST
- Page 1 of 1
Cardinal Points fired incoming Editor in Chief Joshua Cameron Wednesday when the editorial board learned he plagiarized in a game review.
There were numerous similarities between a review printed in Cardinal Points in Issue 11 - April 27, 2007 - and a GameSpot.com review on "Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter 2" (GRAW2) for the Xbox 360.
"This is unacceptable," outgoing Editor in Chief Dan Shepard said. "Plagiarism, whether it be for a story or a review, is destructive and misleading. I feel we handled the situation in the proper way."
Cameron is suspended in whole for one year and is barred from ever serving in the capacity of an editor.
The GameSpot.com review started off by saying GRAW2 was a good fit for the Xbox 360 and that it was a "must-have" game. Cameron's review started the same way, saying it was a "must-have" title.
Paragraph two in the GameSpot review started "GRAW2 puts you right back in the steel-toed combat boots of US Army Captain Scott Mitchell" while Cameron's review started "GRAW2 puts you right back into the life of Capt. Scott Mitchell."
Throughout a majority of the review, key phrases are word-for-word. What was presented as the opinion of Cameron was actually the opinion of Jason Ocampo, editor of GameSpot.com.
"I apologize to Mr. Ocampo and I assure any reader of Cardinal Points that we properly handle issues like these when they arise," Shepard said. "Regardless of Josh's status as an editor, this was the right decision."
After determining the similarities, the CP editorial board determined both reviews were too close, voting unanimously to fire Cameron.
Anyone who joins the newspaper, or any journalist for that matter, has a serious reputation to uphold.
"This can serve as a message to anyone in journalism," Shepard said. "It's terrible journalism and it's unfortunate that the readers were fooled."
Managing Editor Ryan Hutchins, who ran for editor in chief against Cameron last month, will take over as editor in chief for 2007-08.
"I was shocked and dismayed when we found that Josh had stolen the intellectual work of another journalist," Hutchins said. "These actions injure multitudes, including our editors and staff who fight every day for credibility; our readers, who want the truth; and Mr. Ocampo, who clearly worked very hard to produce his review. I hope the ugly face of plagiarism never rears its head again at this newspaper."
There were numerous similarities between a review printed in Cardinal Points in Issue 11 - April 27, 2007 - and a GameSpot.com review on "Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter 2" (GRAW2) for the Xbox 360.
"This is unacceptable," outgoing Editor in Chief Dan Shepard said. "Plagiarism, whether it be for a story or a review, is destructive and misleading. I feel we handled the situation in the proper way."
Cameron is suspended in whole for one year and is barred from ever serving in the capacity of an editor.
The GameSpot.com review started off by saying GRAW2 was a good fit for the Xbox 360 and that it was a "must-have" game. Cameron's review started the same way, saying it was a "must-have" title.
Paragraph two in the GameSpot review started "GRAW2 puts you right back in the steel-toed combat boots of US Army Captain Scott Mitchell" while Cameron's review started "GRAW2 puts you right back into the life of Capt. Scott Mitchell."
Throughout a majority of the review, key phrases are word-for-word. What was presented as the opinion of Cameron was actually the opinion of Jason Ocampo, editor of GameSpot.com.
"I apologize to Mr. Ocampo and I assure any reader of Cardinal Points that we properly handle issues like these when they arise," Shepard said. "Regardless of Josh's status as an editor, this was the right decision."
After determining the similarities, the CP editorial board determined both reviews were too close, voting unanimously to fire Cameron.
Anyone who joins the newspaper, or any journalist for that matter, has a serious reputation to uphold.
"This can serve as a message to anyone in journalism," Shepard said. "It's terrible journalism and it's unfortunate that the readers were fooled."
Managing Editor Ryan Hutchins, who ran for editor in chief against Cameron last month, will take over as editor in chief for 2007-08.
"I was shocked and dismayed when we found that Josh had stolen the intellectual work of another journalist," Hutchins said. "These actions injure multitudes, including our editors and staff who fight every day for credibility; our readers, who want the truth; and Mr. Ocampo, who clearly worked very hard to produce his review. I hope the ugly face of plagiarism never rears its head again at this newspaper."
Viewing Comments 1 - 5 of 5
PSU student
posted 5/03/07 @ 6:01 PM EST
moral of the story? this is plattsburgh. if the article is too good chances are it was probably stolen.
Give Josh Cameron Another Chance
posted 5/04/07 @ 1:03 PM EST
I don't think the punishment fits the crime at all. We all make mistakes. Give Josh Cameron a second chance at editor but put him on probation. One little mistake and you guys burn him at the stake. (Continued…)
CP Alum
posted 5/08/07 @ 12:03 PM EST
As a CP alum, I agree. Give Josh another chance. I mean, he made a stupid mistake and should be suspended. I have a small problem with that though. Suspend him for one semester. (Continued…)
CP Alum
posted 5/10/07 @ 2:01 PM EST
The dictionary defines plagiarism as "...the wrongful appropriation or publication as one's own, the ideas, or the expression of the ideas (literary, artistic, musical, mechanical, etc. (Continued…)
Dave Deno
posted 9/08/07 @ 10:07 PM EST
I think Josh was punished too harshly. I agree he did make a mistake and a stupid one at that. But does that mean a college junior should have a black spot on his record because a he made a mistake on a college newspaper article? I thought the point of having a college newspaper was so that students could learn about Journalism. (Continued…)
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