Dancing and Plagerism

So i waited to write this particular post because a string of events have happened since one of my articles was published. My article on National Tap Dance Day was by far one of my best reporting experiences up to now. I found a 2-line announcement about an event being held at the Liberty City cultural arts center that celebrated the art of tap dancing.
I decided to go...i had nothing to do that Sunday so i thought it might be a possible story. I got in contact with event coordinator Mary Archer, and after speaking to her, i got a little more excited about the event. She told me she had been tapping for 60+ years, so right away i was hooked.
I got to the small auditorium and sat in one of the back rows and just waited...
I ended up having a lovely time. Music and danced filled the room and the energy was joyful and exciting. I introduced myself to Mary Archer in the middle of the show and interviewed some very talented and wonderful people.
I'm extremely proud of my story, and all the work i put into it, so you can imagine how a felt when a week later i got about 7 google alerts about my story....it was exciting until i discovered the links led to a story in the Herald, which was almost word for word what i had written.
My heart stopped for a second, mind racing, thinking back to whether there had been a Herald reporter there that day. I knew there hadn't been, so what was i looking at? Had someone really plagerized my work? Could this be done? As far as I know plagerism is a Cardinal sin.
So i quickly e-mailed Reisner, and the next few weeks, everything hang in the balance. The South Florida Times executive editor got involved and i got a call from Reisner telling me they were ready to go to war. WHAT?? Me? My story? I couldn't believe it!
I had all my notes, photos and video to back it up, and i was ready for anything. Although the person who claimed it as theirs is very well-respected, I was infuriated. I didn't care who it was. I thought what if i had been the one to plagerize someone else's work? And the simple answer was, i'd be screwed. My career over before it's even begun!
Thankfully, the issue was resolved without any bloodshed, and all is well.

But as Brad Bennet put it in an e-mail he wrote me:
"This was an important lesson in the ethics of journalism, and I’m glad you came out on the right side of it. I’m sure you will be talking about this one for years to come."

Indeed i will