Newspaper comments sections-

I find it interesting that both the Attleboro Sun and the Seekonk Star have suspended their online comments sections. I wonder how long the projo will continue?

Like the old Seekonk Talks the ability to create many accounts from one IP address allowed posters to attack each other and behave in a way that would not happen if they met you for coffee. Though the growth of actual posters here has been slow, I am proud that respectful dialog, regardless of opinion, has flourished here and I think it serves as an example of some of the positives concerning our community.


d

Dave wrote:

I find it interesting that both the Attleboro Sun and the Seekonk Star have suspended their online comments sections. I wonder how long the projo will continue?d

I doubt either media outlet suspended the online comments because of some ethical or moral principles. I'm sure it had much more to do with $$$$$$.

Without advertisers, including political adds, the traditional media would go belly up. The two major political parties, those running for office, businesses, government, insurers are consistently scrutinized on these sites. These newspapers are not about to bite the hand that feeds them. Our contribution as subscribers amounts to chump change. And there are those of us who won't pay that chump change and choose to browse the news sites for free.

So if you were the publisher of the Star or the Sun, which master would you serve?

Actually if you read the comments lately on eastbayri.com it was a lot of people attacking each other- poster to poster...

Dave wrote:

Actually if you read the comments lately on eastbayri.com it was a lot of people attacking each other- poster to poster...

Not surprising.

I think a lot of the smaller newspapers are looking for any reason to end these forums and, IMHO, the reason is not altruistic. They are afraid of the backlash from advertisers. They are also afraid of lawsuits. There is also the possibility business liability insurance rates are affected by the level of freedom provided by these websites.

Admittedly, I am cynical when it comes to those that are suppose to be our eyes and ears while we go about our daily business. News is a business like any other business. They have to justify their existence with profits.