Journal Editor Plagiarizes Chamber of Commerce Brochure

To cover the week's top story for The Journal, the newsy little gazette that logs the first draft of history over in Lake Placid, editor George Duncan plagiarized the chamber of commerce's brochure. Duncan lifted almost a third of "his copy" directly from the center panel of the flyer, word for word, without attribution, quotation marks, or a single attempt to paraphrase. Clearly, it's a cut-and-paste world, even for the most senior of managing editors. **

Compare the texts below the fold:

From the newspaper:
Citrus - Second only to Polk County in the north, Highlands County produces more citrus than any other Florida county. Occupying more than 79,000 acre, producing many varieties of grapefruit, oranges and tangerines, the citrus industry has played both an economic and historical role in the development of the area.
Ornamental Foliage Plants - One of Central Florida’s fastest growing industries are the many foliage nurseries that provide seedlings and potted plants to local home and garden centers. Xeriscaping, the use of plantings that have low watering requirements, has earned its place in the landscaping industry and has proven to conserve water resources.
Wine and Grapes - both hobbyists and professionals are boosting the popularity of the wine industry in the area. Henscratch Farms will host a booth featuring their products for sale such as wine, jams and preserves, honey, dried fruits and an array of winery giftware.

From the chamber of commerce brochure:

Citrus - Second only to Polk County in the north, Highlands County produces more citrus than any other Florida county. Occupying more than 79,000 acres producing many varieties of grapefruit, oranges and tangerines, the citrus industry has played both an economic and historical role in the development of the area. Visit the Highlands County Citrus Grower's Association booth to learn more.
Ornamental Foliage Plants - One of Central Florida’s fastest growing industries are the many foliage nurseries that provide seedlings and potted plants to local home and garden centers. Xeriscaping, the use of plantings that have low watering requirements, has earned its place in the landscaping industry and has proven to conserve water resources. Visit the Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscapers Association booth, sponsored by the Highland-Heartland Chapter to learn more and spurchas just the right plans for your yard.
Wine and Grapes - both hobbyists and professionals are boosting the popularity of the wine industry in the area. Henscratch Farms will host a booth featuring their products for sale such as wine, jams and preserves, honey, dried fruits and an array of winery giftware.


**Duncan has used his editorial space on occasion to rail against "the mainstream media," as if he isn't one. His exhibition here of the low regard in which he holds the fundamental practices of his profession removes all credibility for any moralizing he may undertake in the future. Plagiarists don't get to tell the rest of us where the moral center of the world is. It's clearly no where near George Duncan's word processor.