What is the general rule for lifting stories?

The general rule for lifting stories centers on the ethical and legal considerations surrounding the use of information obtained by others. Re-writing versions of facts uncovered by others is acceptable as long as the original reporting is acknowledged and the new version adds value or a different perspective. This aligns with good journalistic practice, which emphasizes the importance of original reporting and the need for writers to contribute their own analysis or context when discussing facts initially reported by someone else.

Additionally, re-writing helps to avoid potential plagiarism issues and ensures that the storytelling is refreshed and potentially presented in a more engaging manner for the audience. By transforming the information while still respecting the original source's work, journalists can provide updated or upgraded content that informs their readers without simply copying or lifting the original text wholly.

The other choices reflect misunderstandings or misapplications of journalism ethics and law. For instance, saying that re-writing versions is not allowed would significantly hinder the journalistic process and creativity; asserting that lifting verbatim phrases is always permissible ignores copyright protections; and the concept of fair use does have limitations that prevent the unrestricted use of any part of an original work.