Is self plagiarism OK?

IN Opinion | 06/12/2012
Letter to the Hoot: Links are given to articles from a writer who regularly copies himself,
Writes MAYANK JOGLEKAR. Pix: http://jmoningillustration.blogspot.in

Dear Editor,

The demand for content from online portals has reached so high that the writers are now plagiarising themselves. One writer of the well known  portal Moneycontrol has regurgitated his own piece. Links are given below:

Appeared in April 2012:
http://www.rediff.com/business/slide-show/slide-show-1-special-when-big-brands-hide-behind-the-veil/20120404.htm

Appeared in December 2012
http://www.firstpost.com/investing/why-you-should-not-believe-lics-bullst-on-ulips-544213.html

This is not the first time that this writer has copied himself. He does so regularly because he has to generate some 10-15 articles a month. Some earlier examples.

Appeared in 2010:
http://www.dnaindia.com/blogs/post_saugandh-ram-ki-khaatein-hain-mandir-wahin-banayenge_1581525

Appeared in 2012:
http://www.firstpost.com/politics/political-brands-what-the-bjp-can-learn-from-coca-cola-333964.html

He is taking several paras and putting them into the new article to add "weight" to the piece.

Appeared in April 2012:
http://www.rediff.com/business/slide-show/slide-show-1-column-why-warren-buffett-is-wrong-about-gold/20120405.htm

Appeared in May 2012:
http://www.firstpost.com/investing/gold-is-about-to-touch-rs-30000-what-to-do-now-299622.html

There are several other examples of such self plagiarism by online journalists and bloggers. The context may be different, but the Ctrl C + Ctrl V works beautifully to help buffer the article with words. I guess that's what online journalism is all about.

Yours sincerely,
Mayank Joglekar

Gurgaon

4th December, 2012


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