How--and When--to Use Press Releases in Your Writing, Reporting

It has rightfully been a tough summer for reporters accused of plagiarism.

A Yale grad, and Wall Street Journal intern, was fired for making up people and quotes.

A Kansas City Star reporter was fired after his editors said he lifted material from press releases several times dating back to 2008.

The KC Star reporter said that using unattributed material from press releases was a "widespread practice in journalism (we will talk more about whether that statement is true or not at a later date).

The Poynter Institute has a good checklist on how to, and when to, incorporate press release material in your work. Check it out and let me know what you think.