After investigating accusations that Toledo Free Press contributor Troy Neff misrepresented his work in several columns, the weekly newspaper dropped the financial adviser and former WCWA radio talk show host from its roster.

A sample check revealed at least six published contributions that were copied from a service that provides content for financial advisers’ newsletters. Offending columns included those published Dec. 14, Oct. 31, July 4, May 23, Aug. 3, 2007 and July 26, 2006. The original material was distributed by P.P.S. Advertising Ltd., but the columns were published under Neff’s name. Although he is not required to, Neff said he runs a disclaimer on the material in his client newsletter. He did not submit the disclaimer to Toledo Free Press editors.

A P.P.S. spokesperson said the material is copyright-free, but the spokesperson was not aware of any precedent for a newspaper columnist using the material under his or her name.

The firing comes one week after Neff endured multiple stabbings in a road rage incident and saw his WCWA “Troy Neff Show” pulled from Clear Channel airwaves.

“We value Troy’s friendship and his support, but there is no margin for error when it comes to accusations of plagiarism,” said Toledo Free Press Editor in Chief Michael S. Miller. “We stand by Troy as he goes through his personal struggles, but we have notified him as of noon Dec. 17 that we will no longer utilize him as a contributor. We apologize to readers and will renew our efforts to protect the publication and our readers from such misrepresentation.”

Miller said Toledo Free Press did not compensate Neff for the columns. All of Neff’s articles will be removed from the Toledo Free Press Web site pending review of each contribution, Miller said.

Neff issued the following statement Dec. 19:

“I made a mistake on a number of occasions using material that I paid for from my bi-monthly newsletter. In the newsletter we put a disclaimer that some of the stories come from P.P.S. The content, however, was true and accurate and beneficial to many. I am not a journalist and never held myself out to be. I should have known or at least common sense should have told me that I should have made Toledo Free Press editors aware before publication.

“The relationship I have with TFP and the people there is one I value very much. I am humbled by their support and the support received from so many.

“I apologize for my actions.”

This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 17th, 2008 at 6:40 pm and is filed under Community, Media.
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