Newspaper readers write fewer comments
Over time, reader comments will add more perspective on local stories
Dec 28, 2012 | 14 Comments
We’re starting to learn more about people who want to read local news on the Internet. One of the first lessons is that they don’t comment on stories nearly as often as occurred when the online newspaper stories were open to everyone.
In the past, our stories occasionally drew dozens of reader comments – mostly with anonymous display names. There almost always were double-digit displays of comments on multiple stories.
As all can see at the lower-right portion of our pages, there now are far fewer comments following the change that limits reader access to paid newspaper subscribers. It’s not necessarily a bad thing.
We anticipate that with this change, fewer comments will be seen as inappropriate in terms of language, personal attacks, etc. As paid newspaper subscribers, we think online readers will feel and show an extra degree of responsibility toward fellow readers.
We still allow readers to use anonymous display names in posting comments. However, there is less potential for true anonymity since they are paid subscribers to the newspaper. That may change in 2013 when we install programming to allow single-day subscriptions to the website.
Meanwhile, we don’t mind the smaller number of comments. And it’s good to see that in just a few weeks there are about 500 newspaper subscribers registered to use the website – a number that is growing daily.
Over time, reader comments will add more community perspective on the news and commentary articles – perhaps providing opinions that find their way onto the pages of the newspaper.
- Jeb Bladine
publisher
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Comments
I think people are not commenting because they no longer choose to. It really boils down to making a personal choice. The News-Register at the current subscription price of only $6 a month delivered, is, quite affordable to those wishing to comment on it's published articles, stories and/or editorial opinions.
So, what's actually holding a larger number of people back from posting their comments (in my opinion) here, equates to less than one would pay for one small 'popcorn & soda' order in a theater.
But ... I could be wrong as usual, kona.
Any thoughts?
That said, I would like to see more comments. Different perspectives offer ways to understand any subject from another point of view, whether agreeing or not. So I would agree (with kona) that comments be open to all, if only for the sake of variety.
I agree, and that has always been the case going back over the last 10 years it seems, with numbers typically hovering around a core of 6 to 8 people participating most often.
I'd seen that over on the old 'Online Forum' feature of years ago. Even though it had been... 'Open to All' ....and no registration required to participate.
"In general, the people who are allowed to comment anonymously will have more to say and usually be more confrontational, especially in areas of personal emotions." --Don Dix
I would agree to some degree on the last part. Perhaps Jeb might consider re-installing the old emoticon feature, you know, for the whoa-is-me-chomping-at-the-bit-I'm -so mad-I-could-spit, folks ..or.. maybe just an abiliiy to register a thumbs up, or a thumbs down on each comment might have a somewhat less confrontational feel to it.
Question, kona...how would someone be able to comment on an article they can't read as a non-subscriber?
I think there will always be a "tease" to all of the articles. And, if a person read the printed edition, they would have an opportunity to comment online about what they read.
Interesting concept, kona. Perhaps, if theater owners were to invite non-ticket holders into their lobby for a bag of free popcorn & small soda, so as to allow them to co-mingle with the paying crowd so that they may discuss....
.... 'The Big Picture' ... people at some point might stop demanding the free stuff?
My understanding is that there are a large number of small town theaters faced with the possibility of going out of business because of the high cost in switching from film ..to.. digital projection.
I dunno, any other thoughts out there concerning the big picture?
Actually, I believe that having people post and comment and discuss is valuable to success of community. In fact we need more of it. Maybe people wouldn't feel so isolated like they can't speak to someone so instead of taking a gun to a mall, they would communicate and get help. Communication in my opinion is the answer more than staying quiet ever will be.
Democracy isn't a spectator sport - It requires commuincation to work!
Posting might bring our representatives to read and think about issues. It also helps hold people accountable, staying quiet just allows them to continue which might not be best for them or the rest of us.
Sometimes I come across arrogant, radical or like Susan Paynter described "When politics get to personal", but I would prefer someone open up and comment and hate me, then someone be quiet and like me. Because expressing one's self brings change, which in my opinion opens the doors for a better Democracy.
Troy Prouty*
I don't read you as any of the above.
I try, but I'm pretty direct about things and sometimes that sets people off. At the same time you can't guess where I stand.
troy*
That's just a basic quality that we all possess, heck, even monkies do that, especially the howlers. As for your "big mouth" statement...you might take that up with your dentist the next time "(so it may seem)" that he's able to work with both hands in your mouth.
I'm sure that he ..or.. she would be way more than happy to verify the voracity of that claim. Just asking couldn't hurt anymore than it already does. Could it?