Posted on 05/06/2007 1:22:37 PM PDT by John Jorsett
Not so long ago, the only way to talk back to The Post was to write a civil letter to the editor, with a verifiable name and address, or to contact the ombudsman.
Now, click on "view all comments" at the end of a story, column or blog on washingtonpost.com and enter a new world that challenges long-held practices and that can unnerve some journalists and readers. The online comments are immediate, use only e-mail addresses as identification and can be raw, racist, sexist and revolting. Jim Brady, washingtonpost.com's executive editor, said, "It's much more of a free-for-all."
Washingtonpost.com is one of the first major newspaper Web sites to include comments, which are linked to most stories and columns. The intent was to build reader loyalty by making the Web site "more of a conversation than just a lecture. We've started to build a community to talk about the news and not just read it," Brady said. "Every [newspaper] Web site will have them before too long."
Complaints first came from the newsroom. Reporters don't appreciate the often rude feedback, which I get, too. (A sample reader comment on my column last week: "I think we can all agree after reading Howell's lame comments week after week that the Post should save money by eliminating her position entirely. She is worse than a dupe.")
The Web site draws about 4,600 comments a day. But not all readers are happy about this feature. Philip J. Celeste of Danvers, Mass., wrote: "The Washington Post is an excellent newspaper . . . it has the most informative, current, up-to-the-minute and objective news that is happening in our nation's capital. I think the comments section after all news stories should be eliminated. They are like an open sewer."
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
LOL...the msm can dish it out, but they can’t take it. Vulgar and obscene language are not appropriate, but the reader’s comments to Howell were neither. Because of their rigged polls, liberals actually believe there are no conservatives left who disagree with them and the Dems, so these critical comments come as a shock to them.
They could save even more if they would fire everyone.
The marketplace is slowly doing that for them.
The MSM is, as always, a decade behind.
Unless the topic is Paris Hilton's 45 day sentence, in which case the FR moderator locks the thread and insults anyone participating in it.
David Broder must be getting a lot of lefty hate mail.
I wonder why they allow anyone who hasn’t registered with the site post feedback?
************
Our Mods are the best.
At least “blogged” comments to articles prevents the liberal editors from editing the content of those readers’ “leeter” or even making up sentences to completely alter the intent or position of the letter writer.
It used to be standard practice for decades at newspapers and periodicals.
Yeah, I saw that. I was surprised the threads were shut down like that. We usually discuss anything and everything here.
True. I'm shocked the MSM allows "verbatim" comments. Shocked I tell you!
I think it's a sign of desperation on their part. They can't fight the pajama media, so this is their attempt to join them.
I like to read through the comment sections during my lunch break (it’s an approved work website) for laughs. About 95% of comments on article read like they are off dailykos (probably a lot of cross-over). Total cesspool with intimidation of conservative voices. I noticed they disabled comments on editorials probably because of nothing but nasty personal comments on George Will and Krauthammer’s articles. If there’s anyone criticizing the Post on there, its because the Post isn’t left enough for them.
LMAO-how right you are. This is the first comment on this article and you nailed it. A left wing moonbat who thinks the Post isn't liberal enough:
If WaPo did not publish so many mendacious editorials from a certain F.H., not to mention the Op-Eds from a bunch of cranky, delusional, old men, and if it were not so obviously repeating the talking points from Rove et alii, it might get less virulent criticism. Give that a thought, Debbie! Readers know that WwaPo used to be a great newapaper. These days, it is just a clone of The Washington Times.
You nailed it.
To put it another way, the columnist would likely say "Online Venom" is from FreeRepublic, while "Virbrant Speech" emanates from dailykos and DU.
pwned
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