Time, CNN reverse decision to suspend Fareed Zakaria

Well, that didn’t take long, did it? After suspending Zakaria for plagiarism just last week, Time magazine has reversed its decision. Zakaria’s suspension was set to last one month. So much for that; his next column will appear in the September 7 issue. A spokesman for Time issued the following statement:

“We have completed a thorough review of each of Fareed Zakaria’s columns for Time, and we are entirely satisfied that the language in question in his recent column was an unintentional error and an isolated incident for which he has apologized. We look forward to having Fareed’s thoughtful and important voice back in the magazine with his next column in the issue that comes out on September 7.”

Punishments at CNN apparently don’t stick, either:

CNN Lifts Suspension Of Fareed Zakaria http://t.co/kEQTerrb

— Deadline Hollywood (@DEADLINE) August 16, 2012

CNN has completed its internal review of Fareed Zakaria’s work for CNN, including a look back at his Sunday programs, documentaries, and CNN.com blogs. The process was rigorous. We found nothing that merited continuing the suspension.

Huh. So, Zakaria has a history of plagiarism charges, yet his admitted lifting of material from another writer was “an unintentional error”? Puh-leeeeze. The lesson here is that integrity has become completely subjective; actions don’t have consequences. And once-respectable magazines like Time and other “news” organizations are filling up the ditches in the journalistic graveyard.

Time, CNN reverse decision to suspend Fareed Zakaria

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