Lots of people have been taking this very seriously, well media studies students are taking this seriously. Earnest discussions in academia are all very well, but who are the guilty ones? Let Guido remind you of the nomination criteria: a story has to be pinched from an original blog source, either verbatim or in essence, and no credit / payment given to the original source. This qualifies as plagiarism. Similar stories on subjects eliciting similar comments do not pass this test, since even lazy journalists can have the same ideas as brilliant bloggers.

Recess Monkey and Tim Worstall (the prolific chronicler of the Blogosphere), are my fellow nominating committee members, but the final blame and all writs should be mine.

So, belatedly, the nominations are:

• Andrew Sullivan – for technical fault >> Vote!
• Atticus – Sunday Times – nicking Recess Monkey jokes and stories verbatim >> Vote!
• Ephraim Hardcastle – Daily Mail – repeated offences – nice to know he is a fan of blogs>> Vote!
• Marina Hyde – former Guardian diarist lifted US election stories from Wonkette and Blunkett pieces from Guido>> Vote!
• Simon Goodley – former Guardian diarist caught nicking Guido’s jokes >> Vote!
• The Editor – Mail on Sunday – stealing and splashing across two pages articles from The Policeman’s Blog>> Vote!
• The Whip – The Sun – for whipping Recess Monkey’s story and many other suspicious coincidences>> Vote!

The nominating committee has taken into account the good behaviour of both Simon Goodley and Atticus of late, who have, since being named and shamed, been more scrupulous in crediting bloggers. We are aware that this list is far from complete, but click on Vote! to endorse your nominee for the award.

UPDATE : Results here.