Report: Monica Crowley Alleged to Have Plagiarized Her Ph.D. Dissertation; HarperCollins Pulls What the (Bleep) Just Happened? After CNN Documents Numerous Examples of Lifted Text

This is bad.

I was going to give Ms. Monica the benefit of the doubt, but now another report's coming out that she allegedly plagiarized parts of her dissertation as well.

I met Ms. Monica at the David Horowitz Wednesday Morning Club, in June 2012. She was giving a talk on her book. She signed my copy, What the (Bleep) Just Happened? The Happy Warrior's Guide to the Great American Comeback. (The book page is now pulled at Amazon.)

Plagiarism is an extremely grave charge, and it's extra personal for me, as I'm a scholar. Funny, but when Ms. Monica signed my book I gave her my business card and told her about my scholarly background in international politics. She boasted that that was her field as well, blah, blah. She served at one time as an aide to Richard Nixon, so she's got deep roots in the realist GOP establishment. After I met her, and after listening to her talk at the Wednesday Morning Club, I found an increasing respect for her. Honestly, before that, I found her a bit pompous. I don't think she's all that attractive either.

In any case, judge for yourself. At Politico, "Trump Pick Monica Crowley Plagiarized Parts of Her Ph.D. Dissertation."

And especially, at CNN, "Trump national security pick Monica Crowley plagiarized multiple sources in 2012 book."

The thing about plagairism is that it's so easily preventable. Those long passages people get busted for can be big block quotes or huge paraphrased sections, as long as they're pointed out and such and documented with citations. It doesn't take anything away from the author and it doesn't take more time. Frankly, it's just what you do.

Layoffs at CNN? Start by Firing Serial Plagiarist Fareed Zakaria

It's hard out there.

At the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "Turner Broadcasting to offer voluntary buyouts, layoffs also expected," and "Following layoffs memo, Jeff Zucker tells CNN employees they need to “do less and do it with less”":

CNN chief Jeff Zucker recently shared not so encouraging words with some of the news operation’s employees, many of whom have been bracing for potential jobs cuts.

“We are going to do less and have to do it with less,” Zucker said during a call-in to a news meeting Tuesday morning. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution recently received a partial transcript of the call from a Turner employee who asked not to be identified.

Zucker’s comments feed growing concerns among employees at CNN and other operations of Turner Broadcasting, which has nearly 13,000 full-time employees, about half of them in Atlanta.

Zucker made his comments to staff the day after Turner chief John Martin sent a memo to staff saying a more streamlined company would be in place by the start of next year and that employees would begin hearing more in coming weeks. Turner executives are trying to refocus the business, including shedding costs, spending more on original programming to boost ratings and looking to prioritize other growth options.

Zucker said, “We now have a sense of what Turner is expecting from CNN. I am working with the senior management team at CNN to figure out what this means for us. This will result in changes and what we do and what we stop doing.”

Here’s a transcript of part of Zucker’s call...

More at the link.

CNN can start by firing Fareed Zakaria.

Also at Variety, "Turner Broadcasting Prepares for Staff Buyout Offers Amid Bigger Changes Ahead."