Alec Salmond is visiting Hong Kong and mainland China this week. A great opportunity - the market for Scottish exports like whisky and energy know-how is obviouly vast. (Chivas Regal, for some unknown reason, is huge in China, available in every nightclub).

So how is it reported in the main Scottish newspapers? The broadsheet Scotsman finishes the story with these factoids:

More than 5,000 students from mainland China and Hong Kong are now studying in Scotland and each is thought to generate at least £50,000 in tuition, goods and services over the course of a four-year course.

Scotland has eight "Confucius" classroomswhere school pupils learn about Chinese history and culture, and school visits to China are to begin later this year.

More than 5000 students from mainland China and Hong Kong.

Each is thought to generate at least £50,000 in tuition, goods and services over the course of a four-year course.

Scotland also has eight "Confucius" classrooms where school pupils learn about Chinese history and culture.

Did one crib shamelessly from the other? Did they both just read and reprint the press handouts? Either way, it's not a good advert for journalists - who are the first on the scene if there's a plagiarism scandal at a university or high school, and so quick to cast aspersions on the ethics and conduct of any other profession. (The noble exception of Private Eye's "Street Of Shame" excepted).

So - gissa job!