Drunk British Reporter Video: Adam Smith, Birmingham Mail Obama Reporter, Caught On Tape Admitting Plagiarism

A British reporter covering the 2008 Presidential election for the Birmingham Mail was caught on tape in a drunk rant, admitting plagiarism and acknowledging that he was writing his story while "pissed" drunk.

Adam Smith, also known as Steve Zacharanda, came to Miami last week to cover the election because, as he put it, "I aint going to go to Ohio, am I? I go to Miami, because that's where the party is."

Smith said, "I wanted to be here because I'm here for history. The trouble is, the readers of the Birmingham Mail are going to get my version of history. And I'm just a little bit pissed."

He then said, "Thank God for the BBC, because I'm cutting and pasting, baby!"

Smith ended his rant with a "fuck you" resignation from the Birmingham Mail, saying, "My name is Adam Smith, also known as Steve Zacharanda, who has just resigned from the Birmingham Mail, the Birmingham Post and the Birmingham Sunday Mercury, to set up my own magazine...Fuckk you, I'm doing what I want."

Watch:

The Times reports that Smith's employment status is now very much up in the air:

Steve Dyson, editor of the Birmingham Mail, said: "This is an internal matter, so we cannot discuss it."

Asked about the company's attitude towards plagarism, he added: "Whilst we cannot discuss internal matters, plagarism will not be tolerated in any form by BTM Media Limited - although we do not believe that any has been taking place."

In a further comment left the next morning by Mr Smith on the YouTube page, he appeared to have sobered up significantly.

"Right, the thing is, right I've just woke up. And seen this video, which I don't really remember. I've been told to phone the Birmingham Mail because I am in trouble.

"I was off duty, I am on official holiday working at the South Beach Miami Barack Obama campaign where I had just done a 18-hour shift trying to make the world a better place. Please check every BBC News outlet and see if I have cut and pasted anything. I have not, it was a joke and should be taken in the spirit it was said."

Comments

[rosiebond007]

Drinking in Britain is getting beyond a joke.
The pubs are open too many hours in the day, too much barfing in the streets, too many fights, too many problems at sporting events, too much much time and money spent on sobering these idiots up, too many lost days of work (too many lies - "I have a touch of flu/cold/stomach pains and on and on ....!"), too many black out drinkers, TOO MANY ALCHOLICS IN DENIAL, broken homes, spousal abuse, dole money spent on beer .... It's impossible to count the costs to the NHS and the taxpayer. Are all of the Parliamentarians in the pub or are they trying to solve this CHRONIC problem??
It's just not funny any more.
YOU BRITS MAKE ME EFFING ASHAMED and when travelling abroad, I avoid you at all costs.
A "reporter ?" - strike a light ......fire the idiot please - he's a disgrace.

[differenteye]

One can look at this so many different ways. Really, it is hilariously funny, especially if he didn't plagiarize. The only person potentially hurt by his actions was himself. I'm thinking that this is a guy with dreams and ambitions who has wished he could make the leap and go after them. Obama has validated that hope even acknowledging the audacity of it.
Smith volunteered to work with the campaign and they won. In a state of elation, euphoria and inebriation, out it all came.

Wow. I bet a lot of us wish we could do that. That is, know what it is we really want and darn well just go and do it.

I bet he is still in shock.

I wish him all of the best however things turn out. One thing for sure is... this guy just totally changed his life in one moment.

Wow

If, and I mean 'if'', he has a drinking problem I hope he addresses it so it doesn't sabotage his dream.

I wish for all of us one of those exquisite moments, when we feel so ALIVE. Its not like we get a lot of practice for these big moments. They just happen. They don't look perfect.

Yes, Adam Smith, reclaim your own name and go do whatever it is you want to do. You have, in a foggy way, made the way clear. If you do it with integrity, you won't go too far wrong.

[KickerBoard]

At least he was drunk - what's Hannity's excuse?

[Bitsko]

And they wonder why we Irish can't stand them.

[RJII]

the guy was celebrating- let him be

[JaneC]

LOL

Who does he remind me of??

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oh7C5ermV24

[Bitsko]

lmfao!

[stevezacharanda]

Hello Everyone
I'm not one to comment on blogs about me but the HUFFINGTON POST BABY!
Ha ha the perfect end to the perfect two week holiday, I have read this wonderful site everyday for the last year in the run up to the election and it is an honour to be mentioned.
I'm back in Birmingham, which has more trees than Paris and more canals than Venice, sitting at the mrs house coming to terms with the last week.
After the sheer terror of Wednesday morning I quickly realised that the worse case scenario was that I would lose £5,000 redundancy money, as I am one of the 65 journalists who opted for voluntary redundancy.
Best case scenario? Who knows. And that is the audacity of my hope!
Not many people get the best moment of their lives captured on camera and become a youtube sensation making hundreds of thousand of people laugh.
Also, when I was watching the video for the first time, through my fingers, all I was praying is that I gave Goggleeye a mention, and I did!
Can I just say thank you for the wonderful support from everyone at home to my new American friends it has been humbling.
As my fellow South Beach Miami Obama campaigner The Kosher King, Jelvis, (www.jelvis.com) would
sing 'Don't be blue, be happy'.

Adam Smith, aka Steve Zacharanda
Birmingham Mail journalist until Monday morning when I face the music.
Goggleeye editor and founder forever baby!!!!!!!

[ProudAgain]

Well done.

[XavierCugat]

Steve Dunleavy's retiring from the New York Post. This guy would be the perfect replacement.

[Inthematrix]

How embarassing!
http://inthematrix.wordpress.com/

[FogBelter]

um ... opps!

[BluePrideSMW]

Is THIS why the red diagonal stripes are mis-aligned on the British flag...? ? ? There's GOT to be a reason...

The Obamas are Moving On UP!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xf3uGsMxsoQ

A sublime Moms Mabley version of Abraham, Martin & John. It's President-Elect Obama's Legacy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ge32xtm23rQ

[ronnieofoz]

That's precious! I predict big things for Steve Zacharanda.. bet the offers are flooding in..

[MikeCanada]

Everyone has a few too many from time to time, and says things they shouldn't. People take everything way too seriously these days. We all have our moments of weakness.

[partyofone]

What? He was a professional journalist on a dubious assignment., whose behavior was unacceptably unprofessional and damaging the position of trust he holds with his employer and its readers.

If his problems with alchohol are so great it obsures his judgment, and he takes professional actions that he cannot remember afterwords, it cannot be overlooked as just a folly. He needs some real help, and excusing his behavior does nothing to address it.

[ronito6]

Good luck with the magazine...and employees like yourself.

[Seven7s]

GIve him a break. he wasnt plagerizing because he always does. he was simply in a spot LOL