February 27, 2004

U. of Maryland Rejects Plagiarist's Journalism-Scholarship Offer

By JULIANNE BASINGER

Jayson Blair, the reporter whose lying and plagiarism roiled The New York Times, wants to donate some of the proceeds from his forthcoming book to the University of Maryland at College Park -- for journalism scholarships.

The university's response? A strong "no."

Michael Viner, president of New Millennium Audio and Press, which will publish the book in March, told Editor & Publisher this month that Mr. Blair had decided to give part of his advance to charity, including