Or are we relying on the blog scene where fact and sensitivity can fall victim to one’s personal spin—either by the hand of a reporter, private citizen or in some cases, an elected official?
The Freedom of Speech continues to be stretched in today’s news mediums. As most newspapers, we have our standards in printing letters to the editor and guest editorials. They can be thoughtful, insightful, challenging and show gratitude for a job well done. They can also reveal a personal dispute or maliciously go after one’s character (these letters warrant much research or are simply tossed aside since no one wants a libel suit on his hands.)
Opinions posted on the Web, however, appear to follow a different, more lenient set of rules. While names, signatures, addresses and phone numbers are required to verify letters in the paper, they are not mandated for posting Web comments following stories on our online editions. Anyone can submit a comment anonymously, thus not be held accountable for his or her viewpoints following a story—whether it’s a feature, engagement, government meeting or a crime where the defendant is either charged or convicted.
It’s been a tough pill to swallow for me, a not-so-old journalism graduate of UW-River Falls, yet old enough to be learning the Internet news scene by the seat of my pants.
While it may seem I’m questioning or even criticizing my own industry as it conforms to the electronic age, I’ve come to appreciate how Freedom of Speech has expanded to accommodate the many voices that may otherwise not be heard from those in our communities and beyond.
Go ahead, post a comment after one of our stories or an editorial at isanticountynews.com. I will receive it and determine whether it can be posted or not. Comments can generate a great dialogue with other readers/viewers. Just remember, our basic standards still apply: keep it clean and tasteful; otherwise, you won’t find it on our site.
Overall, I think many of us in the news industry are passionate about our roles in the community. But what separates the good from the bad is responsible journalism—whether in your local paper or your local paper’s Web site.
— Jon Tatting is editor of the Isanti County News
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