Channel 10 apologized for plagiarism. (Credit: Channel 10, screenshot)

Media General-owned NBC-affiliate WJAR Channel 10 apologized for plagiarizing from the Providence Journal, Go Local Prov reported. Channel 10 is based in Rhode Island and the Providence Journal is a daily newspaper in Providence, R.I.

The TV news station published an online story on a Wheels for Meals program sponsored by the Providence Community Action Program, but it was “nearly identical” to the Providence Journal’s, according to Go Local Prov. It appears this Oct. 5 Providence Journal article by Tatiana Pina is the article that was plagiarized.

GoLocal praised Channel 10’s reaction to the charges, commenting “Hats off to Channel 10 for first off dealing with the incident swiftly and ‘taking action’ whatever that was and also for posting it publically admitting a mistake was made.”

The apology (see here) reads in part:

“On the evening of October 10, 2011, NBC 10 News posted a story on www.turnto10.com about the Providence Community Action Program’s Wheels for Meals program. The next morning, we noticed that the article was nearly identical to a story posted on the Providence Journal’s online blog the week before. We immediately removed the story from our web site and began an inquiry. We have concluded our investigation and taken appropriate action.”

Further, Channel 10 noted that it has “a zero tolerance policy” for plagiarism and apologized to both readers and the Providence Journal.

The Providence Journal  also wrote about Channel 10’s apology, noting that Channel 10’s news director, Chris Lanni, wouldn’t provide more information about the incident.

iMediaEthics has written to Channel 10 and the Providence Journal for more information and will update with any response.

In the past month, iMediaethics has covered a string of plagiarism cases.  In mid-October, POLITICO’s Kendra Marr resigned after being accused of plagiarism. Also in October, the Missoulian accused Examiner.com of plagiarism.  And columnist Steven King resigned from the Irish Examiner in October as well of plagiarism.  In late September, South African newspaper the Financial Mail also apologized for plagiarizing Bloomberg Businessweek, and architecture news site Arch Daily apologized for publishing a story plagiarized from Architectural Record.