RESPONSIBILITY

posted by James Reel

    Douglas McLennan, mastermind of ArtsJournal.com, started his very own blog last year, to which he posts about once a month. His latest item is well worth the attention of anyone who is appalled by the rampant stupidity of so many user comments at newspaper sites and blogs. McLennan urges newspaper editors, especially, to take responsibility for their sites’ content, including reader comments. After all, they're selective when it comes to running letters to the editor in the print edition:

    Online reader comments should hold to no lesser standard. But the comments need to be curated. Not censored. There ought to be a price of admission to the comments section, and that is: have something interesting to contribute. If you can contribute something interesting, you're in. Otherwise... This is the classic editor's job - pick the good stuff and separate out the nonsense.