If I’m anything like the rest of the newspaper-reading world,
then the rest of the newspaper-reading world lives for online
comments.
One of the first things I check when looking at news online, if
the site supports it, is how many comments there are regarding a
specific story. And while it’s not always the case, the more
comments, usually the juicier the content.
Pretty much all of the Colorado online news outlets allow this
sort of reader interaction. It’s amusing to see what stories get
people most fired up.
As I’m writing this column, the Denver Post’s Dave Krieger
column on keeping Jay Cutler in Denver had 222 comments. By far
more than any other news story I browsed that day.
The most commented news story on Colorado Springs’ Gazette Web
site at the same time was regarding the protest over the proposed
ousting of two principals in Falcon School District 49, a
relatively small district as far as the Springs is concerned. A big
enough deal, however to garner heated conversation. Those 46
comments, by the way, were six better than the tragic story of the
death of an 18-year-old at a gas station explosion.
Two decades ago, the average newspaper reader would peruse the
paper and whatever was written, they usually had to swallow, like
it or not. Of course, the letter to the editor, old as time, was an
option. The ancient Romans probably dropped stone tablets etched
with their insights at the doorstep of the local town cryer, but
even then, there was no guarantee he would “cry” it.
Even a decade ago, Internet technology was still pretty sketchy.
Dial-up was the tech de-jour and posting a thought online could
take all day.
Times have changed, but opinions haven’t.
Now readers can tell a writer, an editor or a prior poster
exactly what’s on their mind within minutes of a story hitting the
Web.
Online postings, like anything, is rife with yin and yang. A
good posting is thought-provoking, insightful, funny if it’s
appropriate, serious if it’s not, and usually says what the writer
would have said if he or she wasn’t restricted by the boundaries of
bias.
Many times these postings create new questions that any good
reporter would be wise to follow up on.
Then there is the yang. The comments submitted purely to incite
anger through their thoughtlessness, bigotry and hatred. Readers
usually do a pretty good job of policing these comments themselves,
and those posters are often ignored or scorned so heavily, they
dare not post again. If they do, they are usually ignored en
masse.
Sometimes these online conversations take on a life of their
own. How comments turn to liberals being responsible for Cutler’s
trade talks or how conservatives should be trapped and shot like
the dangerous coyotes reported in the story are beyond me, but
you’ll find those views and more grow organically in the comment
section.
The comment section allows the journalist, the columnist, the
politician, the comedian — the engaged person in all of us share
our opinions with the world, or at least our neighbors.
For our neighbors, The Tribune provides the same service on our
Web site, www.trilakes247.com. The region is
bubbling with issues, both contentious and humorous, troubling and
heartfelt, that beg of commentary from you.
Simply go to the Web site, create a free account and post ‘til
your heart’s content.
Who knows? Those conversations could have a positive impact on
your community … maybe even on your community newspaper.
See you online.
Bryan Grossman is the managing editor of The Tribune. He can be
reached at bgrossman@ccnewspapers.com.