As editors, we are faced with the everyday dilemma of what is right and what is wrong? When we publish an article that is controversial, there is always someone who has to comment. Sometimes those comments go too far and offend other readers who are reading your newspaper or the newspaper's web site.
Sure feedback is good, but not when it causes a word war that could seriously end up hurting some people. Are we restricting free speech when we take these comments in forums off of our web site.
Poynter took this case into hand several months ago in a centerpiece that it did.
We also need to address the often challenging realities of publishing on the Web, including:
* Publishing in an electronic environment that can be accessed by anyone, virtually in perpetuity, is quite different from broadcasting a story once or publishing it on newsprint that eventually disintegrates.
* Limited resources (staff and otherwise) sometimes makes it impossible for us to resolve disputes involving a topic we addressed some months or years ago.
* Seeking justice for all stakeholders is a publishing standard to which we aspire but acknowledge we can't always meet.
So when do comments cross the line?
http://poynter.org/column.asp?id=101&aid=134297
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