PressEthic

In October last year, the Danish journalist, Frank Esmann, publishes the book “Kissinger”, about Henry Kissinger. Frank Esmann is highly esteemed, respected for his journalistic work and a local Danish celebrity. He has been a foreign correspondent for 18 years in USA, Great Britain and Germany for Danish media, now hosting “Temaloerdag” on the public TV-channel DR2 (each Saturday the channel dedicates the evening to exploring one theme, for example architecture, the family etc.).

As the book is being reviewed, several reviewers note that it seems like sentences are echoing. They feel they have read them somewhere before. In Walter Isaacson’s book, Kissinger: A Biography. The story about The Cheating Dane develops, it’s everywhere in the media, in the evening news, the newspapers etc. 184 hits are shown when you search “Frank Esmann and Kissinger” on the database for Danish newspapers, Infomedia, in that period.

It all culminates in an investigation put into play by Kunstraadet (governmental foundation which supports the arts), who has donated about $9000 to the publication of the book, The investigation is lead by professor Steffen Krogh, who does dismiss the accusations of plagiarism, but at the same time states that there are “serious disregard for the copyright of Walter Isaacson” (my translation, Politiken August 2nd). In addition, Steffen Krogh has counted 228 passages to have a striking resemblance to passages in Walter Isaacson’s book. Frank Esmann tells the Danish newspaper, Politiken, on August 2nd this year that he has no comments, while commenting: “Krogh had two months for this investigation” (my translation).

On August 2nd, Politiken brings an interview with Walter Isaacson. This is what he says: “Generally, I am positive towards anyone who writes books, and I can imagine that Kissinger might be more interesting to read about in Danish. But in this case, this is not up to me. So I’ll leave it” (my translation), he says, the journalist noting that he also jokes about the investigation.

Walter Isaacson then talks about the premises for working journalists, how deadlines constantly add pressure, and how “I definitely don’t think that all writers should do lots of interviews or dig into archives. There’s room for using other people’s research…” (my translation). The crucial thing, according to Walter Isaacson, is that you are always very clear about where you have found your information. But still, he refrains from commenting on this particular case.

What I find interesting and freeing in some way, is that it seemed to me that this article as well as Walter Isaacson told another story than then one told the loudest by the Danish media, the one about The Cheating Dane. This story provided room for examining the “greys” of the area of plagiarism, from what I got out of it, trying to deepen the reader’s understanding of what plagiarism is, the importance of accuracy of a journalist’s work, and the pressure journalist’s often work under. Instead of repeating, it renewed, I think, while at the same time making the call, that now wasn't the time for passing judgement.