> This is straight up plagiarism

More likely libel.

> the reporters deserve what they would get if it were traditional plagiarism: immediate firings.

I don't give a fuck who gets fired when I have been publicly defamed. I care about being compensated for damages caused to me. If a tow truck company backed into my house I would be much less concerned about the internal workings of some random tow truck company than I would be ensuring my house was repaired.