Don't read too much into our silence
Seriously, the Blue Plate Special article was a fair one that makes me look better and more responsible for our efforts than I am. So, cool!
One comment by Roch Smith deserves explanation. The article says: Though there is interaction between the two groups, from Smith's point of view it is lopsided. 'Local bloggers frequently comment on N&R blogs, N&R staffers only very occasionally participate in discussion on non-N&R blogs.'
While I haven't done any study of our comments on outside blogs vs. bloggers' comments on ours, my guess is that Roch is correct. There are reasons for that.
Many of our bloggers make comments on our sites and others. I do. Lex, Mel, John, Allen, Doug and Mark do. Certainly others. But we must be careful. While our opinions are our own, people tend to think that we are speaking for the entire organization when, really, I am the only one who does that. And, in fact, I don't speak for the editorial board; Allen does.
We restrain ourselves because we're still journalists, bound by our ideals of objectivity and fairness. Where many bloggers will post on some issue we've written about, we prefer our staff stay away from opining on the topic. Many blog posts are about controversial subjects -- President Bush, the war, Duke-Carolina. Taking a position on them directly conflicts with our standards and those of most daily newspapers.
Here's what our ethics policy says: Staff members should clear any request with their editor for participation in a radio, Internet or television program or news broadcast. While on the air, staff members should demonstrate a high standard of impartiality, just as in our news pages. Opinions and speculation should be avoided. Generally, a staff memeber should not say anything on radio, TV or the Internet that could no appear under his or her byline.
Restrictive? Yes. Necessary? Yes.
If people raise a question about our reporting, generally, we'll try to answer. But many times the posts are evaluations of the reporting. In some cases, we will respond, particularly if we can clarify a fact. But often we won't. People are entitled to their opinions of our work, and we don't feel the need to comment ourselves at every turn.
There is probably another reason why we don't weigh in on comment threads outside of our own blogs: We aren't as religious about following them as we maybe should be.
Comments (8)
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Thanks for posting this. I do follow many non-staff blogs religiously, but I rarely feel I can comment on them, and it always makes me feel bad!
Posted on March 8, 2006 4:19 PM
Was at something that Jeri set up yesterday, and he also mentioned that even outbound links are hard to do from N&R perspective due to legality and representation of Landmark. What can you say, that's a business thing... have to protect yourself.
But I'll be the first to say that I'm glad that there is at least dialogue.
Posted on March 8, 2006 5:45 PM
Much like Mel, I keep track of several local blogs. Yet, I generally only feel comfortable lurking.
There are plenty of times where I'd love to comment, but realize that I really shouldn't. So I don't.
Posted on March 8, 2006 6:27 PM
Is this one of the reasons you've stopped posting from local blogs on 'Not on Dead Trees' or is it something I said?
Posted on March 8, 2006 6:30 PM
I posted occasionally at The Chalkboard - I covered K12 and higher ed for 10 years here and elsewhere before moving to Sports, so I figured I had something to offer. I quit after one I got hit with the "Do you have children?" question. (That was an occupational hazard on the ed beat - either I don't understand because I don't have children or I should empathize with their position because I do.)
Frankly, I barely have time to maintain The Spotter much less post on others people's blogs. That's one of the hazards of blogging on company time - I brag that I get paid to blog, but I also get paid to edit stories, work with my reporters, make sure the Sports section gets out on time, answer questions from readers, etc. etc. etc.
Last I checked, it was still a 24 hour day.
Posted on March 8, 2006 8:53 PM
Not sure what you mean, Sue. Not on Dead Trees is pulled from items posted on the N&R blogs. I don't think we ever put stuff from non-N&R blogs on it.
Unless you're thinking of the short items on the editorial pages. I'll have to defer to Allen on that one.
Posted on March 9, 2006 9:37 AM
On Sue's comment, I believe she's referring to a feature on the editorial page called "Mixing It Up."
Mixing It Up quotes snappy excerpts from blogs, Web sites and other sources.
It hasn't appeared in a while not because we discontinued it but because there's been no room.
We've had a surplus of letters and Counterpoints that have filled that space.
When the letters level out again, "Mixing It Up" will return.
So it's nothing personal, Sue. We love quoting you guys.
Posted on March 9, 2006 11:04 AM
Allen gets a gold star; that's exactly what I was thinking about. (I love quoting you, too, so keep on writing!)
Posted on March 9, 2006 6:11 PM