If there was a Billboard Top 10 for journalism hot topics, the discussion on online comments on news sites would have gone platinum several times over.
There’s a new round of debate, discussion and general consternation this spring.
The Yakima Herald-Republic shut down its commenting system just over 10 days ago and will come back in July with a system that requires real names.
Deirdre Edgar, readers’ representative of the Los Angeles Times, had piece on June 10 headlined “Our goal of civility is falling short.”
Edgar explains of the measures The L.A. Times and other newspapers are taking to better manage comments while continuing to allow them. But she included a line from an email from Op-Ed columnist Patt Morrison. who said:”Personally, I think most comments were of a higher quality when they required pen, paper and a stamp.”
The Boston Globe is joining a growing number of news sites that are outsourcing some pieces of comment management.
The Associated Press Managing Editors circulated a survey last week to newsroom leaders seeking feedback on online comments.
Here’s a roundup of recent articles and discussion on comments.
- Relying on Facebook for engagement: Risky for news …
- Howry: Cleaning up the comment cesspool ‘ Ventura County Star
- The quiet changes to our comment threads
- Paul Keep: Anonymous online comments put MLive.com in …
- Going beyond comments at Hacks/Hackers NYC
- A year later, is your comment system working?
- Changes coming to yakimaherald.com commenting system | Yakima …
- Outsourced moderation: one solution for unwanted online …
- Media Nation ‘ Globe outsources online-comment screening
- Online comments: Our goal of civility is falling short …
- A Reporter’s View On The News Industry’s Broken Commenting …
- Future of Media: Curation, Verification and News as a Process …
- News is a subset of the conversation ‘ BuzzMachine
- David L. Hudson Jr.: 3rd Circuit reinstates police officer’s retaliation claim
- Facebook comments: Fewer and better, or just fewer? – O’Reilly Radar
- New FB Comment System Analytics: Comparing TechCrunch.com Before and After The Switch | Watching Websites
- How Facebook is Killing Your Authenticity – steve’s blog
- Anonymous comments: Adding to debate or facilitating hate? | American Observer
- Reflections of a Newsosaur: Facebook comments: Friend or foe for pubs?
- On the Media: Your words, your real name – Los Angeles Times
- Singel-Minded: Facebook Comments Are Another ‘Good News, Bad News’ Proposition | Epicenter | Wired.com
- Website posters’ anonymity is being put to the test | The Indianapolis Star | indystar.com
- Judge: Media must reveal IDs of online posters – chicagotribune.com
- A 5-minute framework for fostering better conversations in comments sections | Poynter.
- The Pros And Cons Of Facebook Comments
Here’s my complete list of nearly 150 bookmarks about online comments.