A media ethicist's take on Twin Cities' film critic's plagiarism

One of the Twin Cities best-known arts reporters has resigned amid charges of plagiarism. Star Tribune movie reviewer Colin Covert, who has worked for the paper for more than 30 years, announced his resignation on Monday.

The Star Tribune reports that it received a tip that Covert had borrowed language from another writer in a review published in 2009. More research revealed eight more instances in which Covert copied phrases from other reviews without attribution.

In a statement, Covert said, "I'm sorry to say that through too many mistakes over the last 30 years I have compromised the Star Tribune's meticulous reputation for integrity."

The Star Tribune did not respond to MPR News' requests for comment.

MPR's Phil Picardi spoke with University of Minnesota media ethics professor Jane Kirtley.

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