The document discusses the challenges of moderating online comments on news sites. It describes different approaches to moderation, including outsourcing it, screening all comments before posting, allowing anonymity but removing offensive comments, and requiring real names. It also questions whether traditional news-site comments are still useful given alternatives like Facebook and Twitter that allow engagement in a real-names space.

1. Don’t be a pr1ck
Online comments and the challenge
of community engagement

2. Wisdom of the crowd?
• Or the madness of the
mob?

3. Wisdom of the crowd?
• Or the madness of the
mob?
• Idealistic hopes for
news-site comments
gave way to reality

4. Wisdom of the crowd?
• Or the madness of the
mob?
• Idealistic hopes for
news-site comments
gave way to reality
• How can we involve our
readers in ways that are
positive and useful?

5. Talking back to the Globe
• The David Brudnoy rule

6. Talking back to the Globe
• The David Brudnoy rule
• Globe policy: Watch for
“pr1ck” and libelous
statements like “Carl
Crawford is dealing
drugs in the dugout.”

7. Talking back to the Globe
• The David Brudnoy rule
• Globe policy: Watch for
“pr1ck” and libelous
statements like “Carl
Crawford is dealing
drugs in the dugout.”
• Comments turned off
for personal
tragedy, religion
stories, etc.

8. The Winnipeg solution
• Moderating comments is a soul-sucking
experience, dreaded by Globe staff members

9. The Winnipeg solution
• Moderating comments is a soul-sucking
experience, dreaded by Globe staff members
• In April 2011, the Globe contracted with ICUC of
Winnipeg to stay on top of comments

10. The Winnipeg solution
• Moderating comments is a soul-sucking
experience, dreaded by Globe staff members
• In April 2011, the Globe contracted with ICUC of
Winnipeg to stay on top of comments
• Better than nothing — but is outsourcing moderation
any way to engage with your community?

11. The price of free speech
• The Register puts comments up automatically and
depends on the crowd to report offensive ones

12. The price of free speech
• The Register puts comments up automatically and
depends on the crowd to report offensive ones
• “these shootings save the taxpayers millions … not
only in welfare costs but in section 8, food
stamps, health care. it is time to consider sterilization
…”

13. The price of free speech
• The Register puts comments up automatically and
depends on the crowd to report offensive ones
• “these shootings save the taxpayers millions … not
only in welfare costs but in section 8, food stamps,
health care. it is time to consider sterilization …”
• In late 2011, under new leadership, the Register
announced it would begin screening all comments

14. A better approach
• All comments are screened before posting: “Yes we
do censor reader comments. We’ll continue to.”

15. A better approach
• All comments are screened before posting: “Yes we
do censor reader comments. We’ll continue to.”
• Anonymity is allowed, but racist, sexist and
personally insulting comments are not posted

16. A better approach
• All comments are screened before posting: “Yes we
do censor reader comments. We’ll continue to.”
• Anonymity is allowed, but racist, sexist and
personally insulting comments are not posted
• A civil conversation that often adds to the story and
that fosters civic engagement — a virtuous circle

17. Anonymity versus real names
• Howard Owens requires registration and real names
at his community news site in western New York

18. Anonymity versus real names
• Howard Owens requires registration and real names
at his community news site in western New York
• “It starts with basic news ethics: Readers have a right
to know who is saying what.”

19. Anonymity versus real names
• Howard Owens requires registration and real names
at his community news site in western New York
• “It starts with basic news ethics: Readers have a right
to know who is saying what.”
• What do you think is gained from a real-names
policy? What is lost? Which is preferable?

20. Comments are so 2005
• Facebook fosters civil
dialogue in a
familiar, real-names
space

21. Comments are so 2005
• Facebook fosters civil
dialogue in a familiar,
real-names space
• Twitter allows reporters
to promote work and
engage with users

22. Comments are so 2005
• Facebook fosters civil
dialogue in a familiar,
real-names space
• Twitter allows reporters
to promote work and
engage with users
• Have traditional news-
site comments outlived
their usefulness?