Still, I believe strongly that big news organizations with large audiences should give credit where credit is due.

The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Miami Herald and other large publications frequently credit each other for their big scoops. They should do the same with smaller publications – whether black, white, red or brown.

Bob Steele, the Nelson Poynter Scholar for Journalism Values at The Poynter Institute in St. Petersburg, said that in most cases, readers and viewers do not care who broke the story first.

Only we in the media keep score on such things, he said.

But he agreed that it is ethically sound for news organizations, in their follow-up reports, to credit the organization that first reported the story.

Speaking in general terms about the news media, he said, “Competition can fuel our jets, and in some cases drive us to good reporting.”

Also, he said, “In the best of circumstances, even if they do their original reporting after someone else has broken the story, it's wise, it's respectful, and it's ethically top shelf to credit the originating organization for breaking the story.”

I could not say it any better than that.

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