As a journalist, I expect that others in my profession would share the same common journalistic morals and ethics I have.

I guess things are different in the “Land Down Under.”

Seems like Frank Devine, a long time columnist at The Australian, not only lifted complete quotes from Rima Abdelkader’s recent blog, but our sources were misquoted too. And wouldn’t you know it, he never even spoke to them via phone or email.

How perplexing? Why would an established journalist like Frank, who according to his Web site has worked at New York Post and the Chicago Sun Times, do such a thing?

I guess the editors at The Australian and Frank were too busy fact checking other columns and stories because they have haven’t responded to multiple emails asking this same question.

Arabisto.com blogger Rima Abdelkader wrote a compelling piece entitled, “FOX TV Show ‘24’ Angers Arab/Muslim Fans in the United States and Abroad,” on January 19, 2007.

It was picked up and attributed to Rima by:

Nouri Lumendifi of www.mideastyouth.com, attributed the story to Arabsito.com and Rima.

 The Moor Next Door gave Rima a mention.

Olbermann.org placed the story on its Web site.

In Frank’s February 2 column entitled, “There's no villainy in reflecting the truth about terrorists," The Australian printed:

---- However, Sawsan Zaky, a member of the Network of Arab-American Professionals, says: "I think it is simply disgusting and irresponsible of the producers to portray the Arab community as if it was crawling with terrorists, particularly considering the current political and social atmosphere and anti-Muslim/anti-terrorist sentiment in our nation." ----

But, Sawsan tells us she never spoke to Frank. Here is her statement to Rima and Arabisto.com.

“I recently discovered that Frank Devine has misquoted a statement I made to journalist Rima Abdelkader. My original quote was included in an article written by Ms. Abdelkader entitled "FOX TV Show ‘24’ Angers Arab/Muslim Fans in the United States and Abroad" dated January 19, 2007. That quote was recently altered and appeared in an op-ed for The Australian written by Mr. Devine in his February 2, 2007 piece titled "There's no villainy in reflecting the truth about terrorists". At no point did Mr. Devine interview me to get a quote from me. It appears that he took my quote from Ms. Abdelkader's article, altered it and then failed to cite the original source. The altered quote substituted my words for others, which I believe changed the meaning of the quote.”

Here is what Rima actually wrote on Arabsito.com:

Sawsan Zaky, an Arab-American law student and a member of the Network of Arab-American Professionals of NY (NAAP-NY), agreed with Engy’s sentiment and said, “I’m sad to say that up until last night, ‘24’ was pretty much the only television show I was willing to watch.”  She added, “I think it’s disgusting and simply irresponsible of the producers and the network to portray the Muslim community as if it were crawling with terrorists, particularly considering the current social and political atmosphere and the anti-Muslim/anti-Arab sentiment that is unfortunately so prevalent in our nation today.”

In another instance, Frank writes:

 ---- Jack Shaheen, who claims to have examined 900 motion pictures for their treatment of Muslims and Arabs, says 24 is by far the worst. It "constantly defames Arabs/Muslims and generates stereotypes and hatred in the minds of people who know little of the Arab world". ----

When in fact Rima wrote:

Dr. Jack Shaheen, who has documented and examined over 900 motion pictures since 1893 that include Arabs/Muslims, agrees.  In my talk with Dr. Shaheen, he says, “Fox TV’s ‘24’ persistently and consistently defames Arabs/Muslims more than any other group.”  He asks, “Why and who is the ultimate beneficiary of such stereotypical depictions?”

According to Dr. Shaheen, “The average American knows little about Arabs/Muslims or the Arab World.”  He says, we often see images of Arabs/Muslims with machine guns on the screen and this unfortunately generates stereotypes and hatred in the minds of the public.  Dr. Shaheen adds he is not surprised that Arabs/Muslims in the United States and abroad have responded negatively towards this show.

Shaheen tells Rima and Arabisto.com, "Frank Devine never interviewed me for his 24 essay. However, Rima AbdelKader did for the Arabisto essay."

Well.

The least The Australian can do is give credit where credit is do.

And apologize to those who were misquoted in the story.

Least I go into the copyright issue here.

I respect Rima’s work and her integrity as a journalist. She’s good at what she does and that’s why she was selected as a blogger for Arabisto.com.

Own up to what you did Frank and please don’t copy other people’s work  -- that's so Jayson Blair.

I guess the old cliché still rings true in this case, imitation is the best form of flattery.