I created a massive spreadsheet to track every instance of stolen work, and honestly, it was less work than it sounds like. In most cases, I found the original source of AltNPS’s post with a simple Google Search. Finding and citing sources is easy, which makes AltNPS's plagiarism even more damning.
Their Bluesky is interesting, because they post a full thread without attribution and then right at the end cite a source. Which is not the way most people citing things upfront do it…
Exactly! You'd think if they wanted to share news, they'd just include a link at the top, instead of weirdly listing out each source at the very end. It's almost like they're doing it begrudgingly after getting too much heat!
They definitely didn't used to do it. It was one of the earliest criticisms so I agree.
In the linked article, I use an article by @jennamclaughlin.bsky.social at NPR as an example. AltNPS reposted the first several paragraphs of her article with only very slight changes, intended to throw off accusations like this.
![[MCLAUGHLIN:] They've said their unit's overall mission is to review agency data for compliance with the new administration's policies and to cut costs and maximize efficiency. [ALTNPS:] They claimed their mission was to improve efficiency and cut costs.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:7f5fdeb4ci3lefmt4zr3m3wg/bafkreih4asfv5qnxxujhnnnaapieloh35qeuei2mffwxaouz5ntof5y2ie@jpeg)
Well too bad. I read them, I like them, NPR is dead thanks to GOP pedophiles, and this seems like world-class nitpicking. What else you got?
"This person who claims to fight cancer keeps going around and beating up kids with cancer!" "Well too bad. I watch them, I like them, the kids will die thanks to cancer, and this seems like world-class nitpicking. What else you got?"
Kenny Florian got fired from his cushy UFC desk job because of ONE instance of plagiarism
If your opinion is that stealing the work of journalists and passing it off as your own, a hundred times, is no big deal, then I don't know what to tell you. If you want to support journalism, I'd start by unfollowing the unrepentant plagiarists.
And as NPR staff will tell you, they're down, but not out. Now's a great time to donate and support local journalism. bsky.app/profile/lind...
But there's no disguising this. This is the outright theft of a journalist's hard work, stolen and reposted for clout. I've criticized AltNPS for their conspiratorial posts, and their fake spy games. But at their heart, this is what they are: boring, common engagement farmers and thieves.
![[MCLAUGHLIN:] It's possible that the data included sensitive information on unions, ongoing legal cases and corporate secrets — data that four labor law experts tell NPR should almost never leave the NLRB and that has nothing to do with making the government more efficient or cutting spending. [ALTNPS:] This wasn’t routine data—it included sensitive information on union strategies, ongoing legal cases, corporate secrets, and even personal details of workers and officials. None of it had anything to do with cutting costs or improving efficiency. It simply wasn’t supposed to leave the NLRB under any circumstance.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:7f5fdeb4ci3lefmt4zr3m3wg/bafkreiaihpjt43wloi66u2yecw22thviuojx3lmkdvahzygnxvs554ccwi@jpeg)
This is legitimately shitty behavior I do not do this when I copy people's shit unsourced this is gross
I had posted a question about the name of the boat in the Reno 911 QAnon movie, Travis explained it to me, so I gave him a shout out.
I can't imagine ever doing that. I credit ppl who give me insight (even if I don't directly quote them)
Sounds like a disgusting centrist lying through their teeth Muted
At best, grifters and thieves. At worst: Encouraging armchair activism rather than action, which could be horrifically damning.
I don't understand what is going on here