http://www.courthousenews.com/2008/05/06/Reporter_Says_Express-News_Defamed_Him_With_False_Accusations_Of_Plagiarism.htm

Reporter Says Express-News Defamed Him
With False Accusations Of Plagiarism
SAN ANTONIO (CN) – The San Antonio Express-News fired and defamed a longtime reporter on false accusations of plagiarism, Harry Page claims in Bexar County Court.
Page claims that after he refused to participate in a “voluntary separation program” in October 2007, the Express-News concocted false plagiarism charges, and published them, to dump him.
He claims the newspaper, and three of its top editors, defamed him by publishing, falsely, that he “confirmed he had plagiarized.”
Page says he did not plagiarize. The allegedly plagiarized items were five items in a blog; Page says all of them “included attribution to the original sources.”
Page says the accusations are false, defamatory and will make it virtually impossible for him to find work elsewhere in journalism. He also sued Hearst Newspaper, the parent chain.
He is represented by Darryl Carter with Glickman Hughes.

Having seen what was posted, what was attributed and to whom, and seeing that the original authors had no problem with the way Harry presented it in his blog, what the paper wrote was a lie. Harry didn’t present the stie “as his own.” He gave proper credit to the writers. That being said, of course he got “jobbed,” because he wouldn’t take a retirement deal. So it turned into a witch hunt.

When I heard about it, I was crushed. I’ve know Harry since we worked for competing newspapers in the Alamo City, and always respected how he handled his craft.

What the paper did to him cannot be undone, no matter what is written here.

The mighty newspaper got away with it, and a good friend was taken down by “the man.”

It was a sad day for bowling when one of its best writers was taken out of commission. He will be missed, not only for his contributions to the sport, but for being a great friend to so many people involved.

“The paper removed the offending articles, but could more be lurking in the archives? Let’s hope not, but it would be nice to know for sure.”

Something was lurking in the archives, and it stinks. Now, you know for sure.

Harry Page (San Antonio Express-News) – In Nov. 2007, San Antonio Express-News sports writer Harry Page was fired after editors discovered that Page had lifted material for his bowling blog from two websites. The plagiarized work appeared on the paper’s website, but was later removed. Source: Craig Silverman, “Plagiarism at the San Antonio Express-News,” Regret the Error, Nov. 13, 2007.

Judging from the website I saw, some one has got the facts wrong.

http://blogs.mysanantonio.com/weblogs/bowling/

Who is telling the truth? And, did this writer really do something wrong? It doesn’t look like it. Maybe, this guy has been unfairly singled out. Hopefully, the record can be corrected?

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/education/stories/MYSA040808.utsahonorcode.kens.459e31be.html

2008 BWAA Hall of Fame Candidates
Presented for distinguished contributions to print, broadcast, telecast or photographic bowling
coverage among BWAA members. Electees become BWAA Hall of Fame members.
HARRY PAGE: Worked for the San Antonio Express-News as a sports writer from 1970 to Nov.
7, 2007. Member of the San Antonio Bowling Council Hall of Fame. BWAA member for 30 years
and a former director. He has earned more than 40 awards, plaques and certificates for his 29 years
of bowling coverage and his bowling blog for two years. (Not bad for an alledged plagiarist in the bowling industry. If he was, I don’t think he would have been nominated).
JERI EDWARDS: For almost 20 years she has written instruction bowling columns for bowling
publications and magazines. Jeri is a writer for the My Bowling Coach website. She also has
excelled at every level of coaching, especially as head coach of Junior Team USA and Team USA.
She won one professional bowling title.
HENRY FANKHAUSER: Began a daily column for the Washington D.C. Daily News in 1954.
Retired now, he still writes for various papers including the Nations Capitol association
publication. He wrote for the Prince George and Montgomery Journal newspapers in Maryland.
Did color for D.C. first tv show and created Bowlers Night at Laurel Raceway and RFK Stadium.
BOB JOHNSON: After serving as international editor for Bowlers Journal International, Bob this
year was promoted to editor of BJI. Authors Bowler Journal International’s BJ Plus. Has written for
magazines and bowling publications for more than 25 years while winning many major writing
awards. Continues his popular BJI column, voicing opinions and suggestions to better the industry.
CONNIE MARCHIONE: First covered bowling tournaments in the late 1940s for the Cavalier, a
monthly publication for the deaf. He helped start the Motor City Deaf Bulletin and also the Pacific
Coast Deaf Bowling Newsletter. Co-founded the Deaf Bowler Magazine and wrote a regular
column. Has won numerous awards for articles on deaf bowlers since he started writing in 1973.
DAN McDONOUGH: For 40 years Dan has been an important part of the world of bowling as a
writer, editor, publisher, photographer and historian at every level. He currently owns and operates
the Sports Reporter in the New York area. He has been elected to three bowling halls of fame and
has won awards for his writing and photo endeavors.
LYDIA RYPCINSKI: A bowling writer/photographer/promoter for 30 years in the United States
and 21 countries. She also has been international editor for Bowlers Journal, media director for
PWBA and media coordinator of World Cup. Currently lead writer for coverage of the Chicago
Sun-Times annual charity event Beat the Champions.
LYLE ZIKES: Former BWAA president and PBA press director. Frequent contributor to Bowlers
Journal International. Bowling writer for the Daily Herald in Illinois. USA Bowling Coaches
Council member. Chaired BWAA future Task Force committee. Current BWAA board member.

Thanks, A.C.

So did the Express-News have an on-line ethics policy for bloggers in place at the time of Page’s dismissal? Richter applauded 14 journalist who ended their careers by accepted a Hearst Corporation buyout (it was next to the last graph of the column). It seems that Page didn’t accept except. Instead, he was investigated for plagiarism and ultimately kicked out. Interesting, isn’t it. We certainly miss his coverage of bowling.
Here’s some fruit for thought that may or may not shine a light on what happened to Express-News sports staffer Harry Page. In a column by Bob Richter in the Express-News, Nov. 18, entitled “E-N looking for readers’ help with revamped ethic policy”, he writes, concerning ethics — (Bob) Rivard later suggested we expand our purview to look at journalistic standards here as well. So at this point we’ve split into three groups: one solely covering the political issue; one studying what we call “new media,” i.e., blogging, video reports, slide shows and other journalism associated with the Internet; and, lastly, the standards reforms. We hope to have a new document in place by the end of the year.

So did the Express-News have an on-line ethics policy for bloggers in place at the time of Page’s dismissal? Richter applauded 14 journalist who ended their careers by accepting a Hearst Corporation buyout (it was next to the last graph of the column). It seems that Page didn’t accept except. Instead, he was investigated for plagiarism and ultimately kicked out. Interesting, isn’t it. We certainly miss his coverage of bowling.

Here’s some fruit for thought that may or may not shine a light on what happened to Express-News sports staffer Harry Page. In a column by Bob Richter in the Express-News, Nov. 18, entitled “E-N looking for readers’ help with revamped ethic policy”, he writes, concerning ethics — (Bob) Rivard later suggested we expand our purview to look at journalistic standards here as well. So at this point we’ve split into three groups: one solely covering the political issue; one studying what we call “new media,” i.e., blogging, video reports, slide shows and other journalism associated with the Internet; and, lastly, the standards reforms. We hope to have a new document in place by the end of the year.

So did the Express-News have an on-line ethics policy for bloggers in place at the time of Page’s dismissal? Richter applauded 14 journalist who ended their careers by accepted a Hearst Corporation buyout (it was next to the last graph of the column). It seems that Page didn’t accept except. Instead, he was investigated for plagiarism and ultimately kicked out. Interesting, isn’t it. We certainly miss his coverage of bowling.
Here’s some fruit for thought that may or may not shine a light on what happened to Express-News sports staffer Harry Page. In a column by Bob Richter in the Express-News, Nov. 18, entitled “E-N looking for readers’ help with revamped ethic policy”, he writes, concerning ethics — (Bob) Rivard later suggested we expand our purview to look at journalistic standards here as well. So at this point we’ve split into three groups: one solely covering the political issue; one studying what we call “new media,” i.e., blogging, video reports, slide shows and other journalism associated with the Internet; and, lastly, the standards reforms. We hope to have a new document in place by the end of the year.

So did the Express-News have an on-line ethics policy for bloggers in place at the time of Page’s dismissal? Richter applauded 14 journalist who ended their careers by accepting a Hearst Corporation buyout (it was next to the last graph of the column). It seems that Page didn’t accept a buyout. Instead, he was investigated for (groundless)plagiarism and ultimately kicked out. Interesting, isn’t it. We certainly miss his coverage of bowling. A good writer and person as Page should have received a better seemingly career-ending fate.

Page, veteran sports staffer, dismissed
Longtime Express-News sports staffer Harry Page was terminated Wednesday after editors confirmed he had plagiarized from other primary reporting sources at least five items from his bowling blog during the month of October.
The termination is effective immediately. Page’s blog was removed from the MySA.com website Nov. 1. Page had worked in the Express-News Sports Department since April 19, 1970.
“It’s a sad day when a newsroom colleague with so many, many years working at the Express-News has to leave under such a cloud, but the only way to deal with a plagiarist is with zero tolerance and an apology to readers,” Express-News Editor Robert Rivard said.
An investigation into Page’s work was launched Oct. 30 after an editor discovered whole passages from a news release from bowl.com, the Web site of the United States Bowling Congress, were submitted by Page for his bowling blog.
Subsequent examination found four additional items from Page’s blog had been plagiarized from bowl.com and pbatour.com, the latter the Web site of the Professional Bowlers Association Tour. The reports included:
* “The $100,000 Rash,” an Oct. 28 report on pro bowler Steve Rash’s victory in the United States Bowling Congress Masters event at Milwaukee, Wis. The report on MySA.com was lifted from an Oct. 28 pbatour.com news release.
* “USBC Master: Youth bowler successful,” an Oct. 27 item on the Page blog about teen bowler Jake Peters, was lifted from on Oct. 26 bowl.com report by Matt Cannizzaro of USBC communications.
* “Dorrin-Ballard named to Team USA 2008″ appeared on Page’s blog as original work on Oct. 24, but Express-News editors determined it was taken largely from a bowl.com story Oct. 23 by Kevin Hazaert of USBC commuications. The story featured Texas professional bowler Carolyn Dorrin-Ballard.
* And “Liz Johnson wins second U.S. Open title,” which appeared on Page’s bowling blog on MySA.com on Oct. 14, was taken from an Oct. 14 story on the bowl.com Web site by Lucas Wiseman of USBC communications.
The San Antonio Express-News Professional Principles, drafted by a committee of Express-News journalists and agreed to by every working journalist at the newspaper, is quite specific about plagiarism:
“Never plagiarize — the deliberate submission and/or usage of another’s words, images or graphics without attribution to the original source taints the credibility and reputation of the offender and the Express-News.”
The San Antonio Express-News Publishing Co. and MySA.com apologize to their readers, to the authors of the original stories and to bowl.com and pbatour.com for the plagiarism.

http://72.14.205.104/search?q=cache:RYO7xWK8D7UJ:blogs.mysanantonio.com/weblogs/richter/archives/2007/11/page_veteran_sp.html+Sports+staffer+Harry+Page&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us

Now, judge if the writer really plagiarized his items on his bowling blog, which has been taken down off the mysanantonio.com platform. (The entries have been shortened).

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Bowling What’s going on in the alleys of San Antonio? Check back frequently to find out.
October 28, 2007
The $100,000 Rash
2ND UPDATED
(PBA LLC/Gregg Sabel photo)
(If you missed the finals of the USBC Masters, the combined stories from USBC’s Lucas Wiseman and the PBA’s Rosie Leutzinger will put you in the middle of Milwaukee’s Miller Stadium)
Wichita, Kan. bowler wins USBC Masters
By Lucas Wiseman/Rosie Leutzinger (Combined stories)
There are certain things in life that are guaranteed to happen, such as the sun rising in the east and setting in the west. Sean Rash of Wichita, Kan., is trying to itch another certainty for the books as that’s not in a televised bowling finals. In his first championship round appearance in a Major and bowling for the first time in a baseball stadium, Rash showed there isn’t much that can faze him. The 25-year-old right-hander improved his career record in televised championship rounds to 7-0 and became just the second bowler to win a title in his first four TV appearances with a 269-245 win over Steve Jaros of Yorkville, Ill., to capture the 2007 United States Bowling Congress (USBC) Masters before 2,712 fans Sunday (Oct. 28) at Miller Park, the home of baseball’s Milwaukee Brewers, in Milwaukee, Wis.

USBC Master: Youth bowler successful
Bowl.com
Wichita State freshman finishes in Top 24
By Matt Cannizzaro (USBC Communications)
Jake Peters of Decatur, Ill., stormed into the national spotlight and established himself as one of the top youth bowlers in the country with a win at the 2006 Teen Masters a little more than a year ago.Peters, an 18-years-old freshman at Wichita State University and an United States Bowling Congress Youth member, surprised many veterans by finishing in the top 24 at the 2007 USBC Masters in Wauwatosa, Wis.

Dorin-Ballard named to Team USA 2008
Texas resident one of seven women picked by USBC
By Kevin Hazaert
(USBC communications)
Carolyn Dorin-Ballard of North Richland Hills and Wendy Macpherson of Henderson, Nev., will represent the United States for the first time as members of Team USA 2008.Dorin-Ballard, a New Jersey native, and Macpherson were one of the two announced selections by the United States Bowling Congress Wednesday from USBC headquarters in Greendale, Wis.Also added to Team USA 2008 were Liz Johnson of Cheektowaga, N.Y.; Kelly Kulick of Union, N.J., Kim Terrell of Antoich, Calif.; Diandra Asbaty of Chicago, Ill.; and Missy Bellinder and Fullerton, Calif. A USBC committee selected the seven from the pool of players that included Team USA members since 1998 and former Professional Women’s Bowling Association/Ladies Professional Bowlers Tour members.

http://72.14.205.104/search?q=cache:XiyAstd00WIJ:blogs.mysanantonio.com/weblogs/bowling/+%22USBC+Master:+Youth+bowler%22&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=5&gl=ushttp://72.14.205.104/search?q=cache:XiyAstd00WIJ:blogs.mysanantonio.com/weblogs/bowling/+%22USBC+Master:+Youth+bowler%22&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=5&gl=us

From Google search “USBC Master: Youth bowler”
http://72.14.205.104/search?q=cache:XiyAstd00WIJ:blogs.mysanantonio.com/weblogs/bowling/+%22USBC+Master:+Youth+bowler%22&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=5&gl=us

October 14, 2007
Liz Johnson wins second U.S. Open title
Both Barnes and Dorin-Ballard fall in semifinals bowl.com
By Lucas Wiseman (USBC communications)
Liz Johnson of Cheektowaga, N.Y., earned the top prize of $25,000 by downing Team USA’s Shannon O’Keefe of Rochester, N.Y., 248-215, in the finals of the United States Bowling Congress’ (USBC) 2007 U.S. Women’s Open Sunday (Oct. 14) at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nev.
“Once I stepped out on the lanes, I felt aggressive and focused,” Johnson told USBC communications officials. “I really haven’t felt that good in a very long time and I think it showed on the lanes today (Sunday).

http://blogs.mysanantonio.com/weblogs/bowling/archives/2007/10/liz_johnson_win_1.html

It looks in order to me. Would you agree?