New Media Bytes | Online journalism, web production and promotion

Thanks for visiting New Media Bytes. If you like what you see, subscribe to my RSS feed.

Blog Herald has an interesting post about requiring journalists and news orgs to comment on stories and respond to comments.

The author mentions a Steve Rubel blog post which highlighted CNET’s policy of requiring its staff members to participate in commenting. Have you heard of any other places with a similar stance?

While I encourage news people, journalists and editors to participate in the comments on their stories, I think it’s problematic to force someone into this. The example I gave in my comment on that post goes as follows:

Imagine you go on a date to a cocktail party filled with people you don’t know. When you arrive, your date says “run along and chat with people.” If you’re like me, you would be a little apprehensive. You’re being forced to participate in the conversations of strangers. While some people may flourish in this arena, I think most people forced into a conversation won’t be able to add as much to the benefit of others as someone who is generally interested in the conversation.

Now go back to journalists. Yes, reporters and editors may be an expert on a topic, but they may not be too. Forcing them to comment on their own story or others’ stories, if they have no interest in doing so, will likely produce garbage conversation.

Instead, I would encourage news people to first understand that it’s OK to comment (depending on their company’s policy) and participate in the conversation that is going on.  I would really like to see more participation between news orgs and their readership, which could help form bonds and loyalty among readers.

Readers will likely see through a forced comment or one that isn’t helpful. Journalists need to comment and participate in the online conversations for the sake of their readership and their own jobs. But first they must get comfortable with the idea that they are no longer only speaking AT readers, they are now talking WITH them. They can’t be forced, only encouraged.

What do you think? Should we force reporters and editors to participate in story comments?