The Morning Call (Allentown, Pa.) announced this week that it has started print publication of some reader comments that originated online.
Noting the differences between traditional letters to the editor and the new "E-Comments" feature that is published in print opposite the Opinion Pages, The Morning Call writes:
"... the E-comments come from on-line postings that do not need to be signed by full names (though posters do have to register). Moreover, we don't contact on-line posters to verify authorship, an important part of editing letters to the editor.
"Nevertheless, the advantage to be had is to further connect the important 'public forum' responsibility of the newspaper to modern modes of communicating. It might even draw into both forums people who previously had not bothered, and you can see where that might lead; more diversity of voices and viewpoints."
The editors at The Morning Call note that each advance in technology has raised fears: When the paper first started accepting letters to the editor via email in the '90s, "the concern was that the facility and speed of sending an e-mail would cheapen this important public forum." That didn't happen.
Today, some MSM publishers fear what may come when readers can comment on staff articles. As I've noted before, The Morning Call has taken the position that enabling reader comments on articles online is a priority. Online editor Russell Glitman describes the steps the site takes to keep the discussions civil in a post he made May 20 to Romenesko's letters section. He says that it is working. (I can't find a way to link directly to his post among the 1,100-plus letters, so the link is to Glitman's Poynteronline profile page, where it's easier to find the May 20 post.)
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