Given the Strib's bleating over not getting credit for proprietary work retransmitted by wire services, you'd think the paper would be more diligent about crediting others. But if you enjoyed the nifty story on Mississippi River otters on page B7 Wednesday, you might not have realized the piece was crafted by Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Olson.

Associated Press didn't strip Olson's byline, as you can tell from this version appearing on Newsday.com ... or on Startribune.com. Still, even Strib.com doesn't mention Olson's MPR affiliation up top, though there is a credit line at the end.

Update: The Pioneer Press, which ran Olson's story in print on Sunday, included his name and MPR's, and online.

I know journalists pay more attention to bylines than readers, but as the Strib well knows, credit is important not only for fairness, but to promote organizations that do the work, rather than retransmit the work. That's vital as we try to convince the public to support original reporting.

Also, MPR's Bob Collins notes, the Strib limits metro news organizations from using AP content generated by the newspaper's staff.

I can only hope this was an unintentional error, and know the Strib has probably had its oxed gored on more occasions. Still, some editor should send Olson an apology.