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Newsweek Criticizes Ivanka Trump Speech, Forgets What Plagiarism Is

Dane Styler
Dec. 01, 2017

It all began on Wednesday when Newsweek criticized Ivanka Trump for plagiarizing one of her own speeches while in India. The article declared that the "breadth of her talking points" were recycled from a November 2 speech delivered in Tokyo, then showed how several lines were directly lifted from the previous speech. There is only one problem with Newsweek's argument: it is sort of impossible to plagiarize yourself.

The original title of the article read: "Ivanka Trump plagiarizes one of her own speeches in India"

Twitter took Newsweek to task for their mistake.

Newsweek's criticism didn't make sense.

Plagiarizing one's own work is a ridiculous charge. Some think it is a good quality, calling it "intellectual consistency."

If we are being real with ourselves, who hasn't "plagiarized" parts of previous papers while in school?

By definition, plagiarizing yourself is impossible.

In fact, the only place this rule of not plagiarizing your own work applies is in the world of academia.

Maybe Newsweek needs a few more dictionaries in the office.

They don't seem to understand the word.

"Try opening a dictionary...the definition of Plagiarism from @MerriamWebster: the act of using another person's words or ideas without giving credit to that person."

Sarcasm much?

As expected, people brought out the sass.

"Next [Newsweek] feature: Sun plagiarizes self by rising and setting in same manner as it did yesterday."

Don't tell Ivanka!

"Wow, I wonder what Ivanka Trump will do when she finds out what Ivanka Trump did."

Give yourself permission to copy yourself.

When you apply Newsweek's logic to other aspects of your life, it really falls apart.

Turns out that this is a common practice in speechwriting.

A former speechwriter explains: "I know it's standard practice to reuse major portions of past speeches. That's why they are called "stump speeches," those which lay out broad positions and tell specific stories in support."

It has not been a good decade for Newsweek.

"Newsweek is a failed magazine under new owners. Trying to gain ad money from Trump haters by looking stupid as them."

Since 2008, Newsweek has suffered internal and external contractions, shifts in focus and audience, and hemorrhaging of finances. The publication has ceased and resumed publication and has changed ownership hands many times over.

Newsweek changed their story. Actually, they changed one word, in the headline.

The publication changed "plagiarizes" to "recycles" in the headline.

Does not seem like much of an apology.

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h/t: Newsweek, Twitter,