Comment feature off Internet page
Some Mining Journal readers have no doubt taken note that as of Monday our Internet edition no longer offers a readership comment option at the end of each story. The Journal felt compelled to withdraw the comment option as the result of abuse by a small minority of readers.
The Journal’s Internet edition easily receives many more hits and visits than any other news Web page in the Upper Peninsula — so it’s painful for us to withdraw an interactive feature. However, because of a few “bad apples” that is exactly what we found necessary.
The story comment option was recently introduced on the Journal Internet edition in order to spur dialogue and feedback on a variety of posted Mining Journal stories, ranging from news and feature stories to local school sports coverage.
The comments were posted, without prior screening, in order to make it as easy as possible for Journal readers to submit their input directly. Unfortunately, a handful of participants abused the system. While most comments were astute and relevant, some relentless individuals decided to turn the comments section into a chat room that ventured, frankly, into the realm of inappropriate, sophomoric idiocy.
The roots of The Mining Journal’s editorial ethical standards go back some 163 years. In order for a letter to the editor to be considered for publication in our print edition, a name and other verifiable information must be included. Not so, however, with the Internet comments. Subsequently, on our Web site a small but persistent group of people threatened to tarnish The Mining Journal’s reputation for responsible journalism. A few Web comment submissions even consisted of cowardly anonymous personal attacks on local citizens. That could not be allowed to continue.
We feel strongly that eliminating the possibility for further such despicable attacks far outweighs the benefit of the comment feature.
The Mining Journal apologizes to the majority of Internet edition readers who used the comment feature responsibly. We’ll miss your input. When our Web page software capabilities progress to the point where we can quickly and effectively screen reader comment submissions, we may consider reintroducing the feature.
