New York Magazine Reviews Writer's Work After Plagiarism Accusations
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New York magazine is reviewing the past work of contract writer Ross Barkan following accusations he plagiarized passages from other publications. Barkan defended his methods, stating that including hyperlinks or naming authors was sufficient credit. The review could affect his standing as a contributor to several prominent outlets.
Facts First
- New York magazine is reviewing Ross Barkan's prior work after accusations he copied passages from The Washington Post, The Intercept, and Compact Magazine.
- Identical or near-identical passages were found in Barkan's work, including some with 30 consecutive identical words.
- Barkan defended his methods, stating hyperlinks and naming authors were sufficient acknowledgment for leaning on another's reporting.
- A journalism professor stated that significant word-for-word copying without quotation marks is generally considered plagiarism.
- Barkan is a contributor to multiple outlets including New York magazine, Crain's New York, and The New York Times.
What Happened
New York magazine is conducting a review of contract writer Ross Barkan's past work following accusations of plagiarism. The review was prompted after NPR identified at least three instances where Barkan's writing appeared to copy from other publications. In one case, a story about conservative influencer Ben Shapiro copied paragraphs nearly wholesale from a Washington Post article. New York magazine updated that story to directly quote the original Post writer, Drew Harwell. Other identified passages were pulled from stories published in The Intercept and Compact Magazine, often involving summaries of historical background.
Why this Matters to You
If you read commentary from writers like Barkan, the integrity of their sourcing matters for your trust in the information. When publications fail to properly credit original reporting, it may undermine your confidence in their content. The outcome of this review could influence which voices you encounter in major magazines and newspapers.
What's Next
The review by New York magazine is ongoing and its findings may lead to further action. Other publications Barkan contributes to, such as Crain's New York and The New York Times, may also review his work. How these outlets respond could set a standard for handling similar accusations in the future.