On the other subject of debate, i.e., plagiarism, we at Newhouse warn students strongly about putting work on tape that is not their own. Aside from being patently dishonest, they could easily get caught as MAY have been the case at Harvey's shop. No news director is going to hire someone just based on a standup montage on a resume tape. I've found when the candidate shows competence on camera, the other elements are often there too. I worked at one station where I used to find out about talent and format changes in my newscasts when I read about them in the newspaper.
Nobody likes that.
Shoptalk's ongoing Great Tape Debate is great reading. As in television news and journalism in general, no formula fits all cases. I think critical thinking and writing skills are at least as important as performance, but I know that one without the other won't cut it on camera. I can think of very few reporters whose standups are really that good. Play to your strengths.