The mayor of Ørland municipality in Trøndelag was on Thursday taken for plagiarism in a debate post published in several media.
A number of media houses are now in the process of reviewing Myrvold’s previous debate posts.
They have revealed that this is far from the first time the mayor has plagiarized other people’s texts.
Requests exemption from the position of mayor
In a press release on Friday afternoon, Tom Myrvold writes the following:
«In recent days, there have been several cases where I have taken text from others and used them in my own posts without giving a source. I will once again give an unreserved apology to all those I have taken text from and the editors who have printed this. I would also like to apologize to those I have had as co-authors in posts, who have not been aware that these may have contained text I have taken from others.
I have had the pleasure of being mayor of Ørland municipality since 2015. A role that has given me a unique opportunity to take part in the development of Norway’s foremost defense municipality. This has been a great privilege for me and I want to thank both the inhabitants of Ørland and my party for giving me this opportunity.
I have been in tough political processes before and with a straight back resisted personal attacks and attempts to hit me as a person. What has emerged in the last couple of days is due to mistakes I have made myself and this has challenged my integrity as mayor and human being. For me, it is a much more important consideration to take.
Therefore, I will take the consequence of this and ask the municipal council in Ørland municipality for exemption from the position as mayor and other elected positions at the first opportunity. I think this is right both for the municipality that I love so much, but also for my own family and good colleagues in the party.»
– Review all sources
“Trønder debate” on Friday reviewed previous posts by the Conservative mayor. 25 of 31 debate posts signed Myrvold contain plagiarized sections.
– It is very outrageous and I think this will have consequences for how we and other debate editors work in the future, says Snorre Valen, editor-in-chief of Trønderdebatt.
Mayor caught for plagiarism in debate posts
Even though I’m looking for plagiarism when something goes awry, the thought does not strike me that I have to completely check plagiarism posts that come from writing mayors in Trøndelag, says Valen.
Trønderdebatt has so far only reviewed open and searchable sourcesbut will also review printed debate posts.
The debate page retains Myrvold’s post, but clearly indicates that it is plagiarism. Valen believes it is most orderly not to publish the posts, as long as one does not know the extent of the plagiarism.
– Could you have done a better job of preventing this?
– Yes, obviously. We must apologize strongly to all those affected by the plagiarism. It is our responsibility, says Valen and adds that Trønderdebatt will now review its routines for future debate posts.
– It is quite possible that we have to introduce a simple plagiarism check on all posts that come in, says Valen.
CONSIDERING CHANGING ROUTINES: Snorre Valen, editor-in-chief of Trønderdebatt, says the debate site will now review its own routines.
Photo: Klara Skovro Thoresen
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Will not unpublish
The Armed Forces Forum, which has published the same post by Tom Myrvold, also has a full review of previous posts by the Ørland mayor.
They have so far found examples of plagiarism in 6 of 8 published debate posts by Myrvold.
Editor Stian Eisenträger says The Defense Forum apologizes to both readers and people who have been the victims of plagiarism.
The Armed Forces’ forum is now sharpening its routines by conducting plagiarism checks on future debate posts.
They have also marked all posts by Tom Myrvold where plagiarism has been discovered, but do not want to republish the posts.
– I believe in principle that you can not depublish yourself away from your problems, says Eisenträger.
Tom Myrvold has today sent a press release via his own Facebook account where he will ask the municipal council for an exemption.
Meeting with the county management
Earlier Friday afternoon, Myrvold had a digital meeting with the leader and deputy leader of Trøndelag Høyre. It was leader Christian Ingebrigtsen who asked for the meeting yesterday.
Shortly after the meeting, the message came from Myrvold asking for an exemption.
– It was a constructive and good meeting, says Ingebrigtsen to NRK.
– Did you ask Myrvold to resign as mayor?
– No, this is his decision that came after the meeting was over, Ingebrigtsen answers.
About the trust in the Conservatives in Ørland, the county leader says:
– All such cases have a negative effect on trust in politicians.
– Tragic situation for the mayor
Deputy doors Ogne Undertun understands that Myrvold is resigning.
-But emotionally I sit with an empty feeling. It is a tragic situation for the mayor, Undertun says to NRK.
He expects that there will be a mayoral election at the municipal board meeting in April.
– I do not think there was any other possibility for Myrvold, says Snorre Valen to NRK on Friday afternoon.
– This triggers a strong crisis of confidence since he has signed the posts as mayor, says Valen.
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