Last month I shared my perspective on ghostwriting. I urged caution for those who hire ghostwriters (give your ghostwriters credit) and understanding of those who are ghostwriters (because I do ghostwriting).
Then, I read “The Cheating Epidemic” in the May Reader’s Digest, which addressed academic ghostwriting. The article chronicles a prolific writer who earned a decent income cranking out papers, academic proposals, and even dissertations for hire. His dubious work helped both lazy students and unqualified students receive grades and credentials that they didn’t earn or deserve.
I am quick to condemn this type of ghostwriter. Their work goes beyond tricking the public with an incorrect byline. In addition to being immoral, I characterize academic ghostwriting as fraudulent and likely illegal.
After all, would you seek the help of a doctor, lawyer, or member of the clergy who had paid someone else to earn their degree for them? I think not. Yet, with academic ghostwriting, you will never know.
For academic ghostwriting, there is never a situation where it is acceptable.
[Although I am appalled by academic ghostwriting, I am not shocked. When educators tell students there are no moral absolutes, they implicitly grant permission for their charges to pay others to do their schoolwork for them.]
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Peter Lyle DeHaan, PhD, is a full-time, career author. He’s published scores of books, hundreds of articles, and thousands of blog posts, with experience as a publisher, editor, and commercial freelance writer. A passionate wordsmith, his goal is to change the world one word at a time. Learn more at PeterLyleDeHaan.com.
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