The publisher of P.E.I.'s Graphic newspapers is investigating one of his most well-known columnists for suspected plagiarism.

'It's entirely in the hands of Paul McNeill.'— Jack McAndrew

The issue came to light after Island bloggers said that a column by Jack McAndrew, a popular Island columnist and award-winning journalist, was strikingly similar to an article that's been circulating on the internet for years.

"At this point I don't have anything to say to the CBC," said Graphic publisher Paul MacNeill.

"My inclination is my readers have a right to know first what I'm thinking on anything. The readers can expect me to say something, because I won't deny there has been an issue raised.  I'm going to tell them first."

The column in question, titled Tips for Proper Etiquette at the Holiday Buffet Table, appeared in the Dec. 20 edition of the Eastern Graphic and West Prince Graphic. It outlined 10 tongue-in-cheek tips on how to imbibe over the holidays.

Variations of the same article have been published hundreds of times on the internet, at least as far back as 2004. Plagiarism is defined as copying another person's work and passing it off as one's own without attribution.

Reached Thursday by CBC News, McAndrew was not willing to comment. He said the issue will be explained in next week's Graphic.

"It's entirely in the hands of Paul McNeill," he said.

"There will be an explanation of that in next Wednesday's paper, the Graphic."

MacNeill described the matter as serious, and said it will be addressed.

The Eastern Graphic and the West Prince Graphic are published by Island Press Limited, with a combined circulation of about 13,000.