Our newsobserver.com recently gave readers the ability to comment directly on news stories posted on the site.
On Monday afternoon, newsobserver.com editors, in agreement with the newsroom's senior editors, reluctantly ceased allowing comments on one particular story.
The report on a Saturday night fracas at Raleigh's Triangle Town Center involving 15 to 20 young people was the most popular story on the Web site yesterday, attracting close to 200,000 page views.
The report included the police booking photos of six young black people charged with offenses ranging from trespassing and disorderly conduct, to assault and inciting a riot. Generally, the paper does not publish mug shots of people charged with relatively minor offenses. These photos were included because the individual offenses police say occurred added up to an event of significant public interest.
When we posted the photos, we were certainly aware that, given the nature of our society, rough comments would follow. The staff monitors reader comments and was prepared to remove those that crossed the line of civility and good taste.
Several comments were removed, but by mid afternoon, the volume of unacceptable comments were too much for the staff to handle. Of roughly 130 comments posted at one point, only two or three, were civil.
The comments viewed were what one would expect to find on a Ku Klux Klan or Nazi site. The comment function no longer served any purpose other than to allow certain people to anonymously vent their racism, thus the decision to shut it down.
Followup stories today that address in fuller detail what occurred on Saturday night and that address the issue of safety in the public square continue to attract public interest and comment. Thus far, the comments are within acceptable boundaries.
We believe that the ability to comment on stories generally serves a useful purpose of stimulating a public discussion of the things that matter to all of us. However, we reserve the right to maintain a reasonably civil space.
Linda Williams
Senior Editor/News
Linda Williams is a native of Fayetteville and graduate of UNC-CH. Her journalistic experience includes working at The Oregonian, The Wall Street Journal and the Los Angeles Times. She can be reached at 
Comments
Jesse comments ???
Sun, 08/03/2008 - 15:46 — FloydTurboI agree that comments on the TTC issue "crossed the line" ...... but where was "the line" in the aftermath of Senator Helms' passing ??? The N&O (and Ms Williams !) seemed to allow "any thing" when it came to trashing Sen Helms. Does The N&O "draw lines" relative to whether or not Ms Williams shares the opinion of the provocateuring poster? There are "far left" factions every bit as "beyond the pale" as The KKK and Aryan groups and those factions where at full volume regarding Sen Helms.
Good for you
Sat, 08/02/2008 - 08:50 — bellaparolaI completely agree that the forums are yours to manage as you see fit, and I think that cutting off comments entirely on a thread that's gotten out of control is one good way, and deleting comments that cross the line is another. I don't approve of editing comments in any way, and hope that you resist that urge - either leave it or dump it, but keep your edits out.
On a related topic, you mention that the comments are monitored regularly. If that's the case, I am surprised to find no mention (unless I've missed it somehow) of the UNC connection of Dr. Bruce Ivins, which I posted about in the middle of the day Friday. Or do we only make noise about that kind of link when it's a Nobel Prize that caps a career, rather than mass murder?
Nonsensical comment
Wed, 07/30/2008 - 14:04 — DebrahSomeone's yearly salary has nothing to do with this issue.
Nor does the location where they may or may not have lunch.
This is silly.
Newspaper people don't make loads of money.
Since I rarely read and comment on the regular news stories----and just read them in my print edition----I have no idea about what took place and what kind of commentary was deposited beneath those referenced news reports.
However, if some of the comments were offensive and over-the-top, then why not delete them?
Adult online readers should be capable of disagreeing vehemently and presenting strongly worded opposing opinions without resorting to base language.
It should be noted---in bold relief---however, that the same old stand-bys, "Nazi and KKK", were used as a comparison.
Note that there was no example of Jesse Jackson wanting to "cut" someone's "nuts off" and using the "N" word with great authority for all to hear.
And note that there were no comparisons to the bile-inducing racist and over-the-top rhetoric of Jeremiah Wright who was gleefully slapped on the back by members of his congregation for his horrific "sermons" which eclipsed anything one might hear or read from "Nazi" and the "KKK" language.
Nothing wrong with toning down offensive commentary.
We should all agree with that.
Just make sure you use this method across the board.
Be an "equal opportunity" gate crasher.
Who guards the guards......
Wed, 07/30/2008 - 12:46 — Uncle Ruckus (not verified)As typical with the NandO -- yes, you do have the right to control you own blog. But at the end of the day, the editors of NandO, and your sanctimonious owners in Sacramento proved once again, what elitist hypocrites they really are. You are completely out-of-touch with those who earned less that $60K per year, unless they happen to be illegal aliens. Enjoy your lunch at the Cardinal Club.
links
Tue, 07/29/2008 - 15:51 — rcarter (not verified)The coding on the links have been fixed.
It's too bad...
Tue, 07/29/2008 - 15:09 — janiswashington74 (not verified)... a "senior editor" at a paper your size can't learn how to link to other pages. And you people wonder why newspapers are dying? Hmm... could it be the lack of leadership with any inclination toward the web?