New rules for a reopened comments section – second try

Editor’s note: this column was posted Monday but a glitch prevented readers from submitting comments. We’re trying again. We apologize for the inconvenience.

NancyOnNorwalk’s comment section is open again but with some important revisions.

As you may recall, we experimented last month: first we suspended the comments section, then we sent Nancy Chapman on vacation for two weeks, with no reporting or publishing while she was gone. We conducted a survey to gain feedback from readers on a variety of questions, including comments.

One thing we learned: overwhelmingly, readers want the comments section to return, as they see it as an integral part of the organization’s mission “to provide a forum for information and a healthy exchange of ideas.”

The Comments section needs more management attention to achieve its goal, and it will get it. While moderation is a significant daily task for NoN’s one reporter/editor, we are exploring ways to reduce that burden.

Therefore, the new rules:

1. Be “nice.”
2. Use your own full name. Comments submitted without a real name will not be published.
3. Stay on topic.
4. Use and make comments, but do so thoughtfully.

What’s “nice” mean? Please present viewpoints and opinions without nastiness and anger, and without presenting opinion as fact.

If you have information that you wish to share but feel you can do so only anonymously for whatever reason, send it to Nanc[email protected] so that it can be considered for reporting.

We welcome letters to the editor.

More changes will come.  The Knight Foundation development grant awarded to NancyOnNorwalk.com in July will fund a significant upgrade of the website user interface, to include expanding the capabilities of the Comments section. We are excited about these prospective changes, although they will require significant resources to implement effectively during the next year.

We expect to revise the existing Comments policy (available here) to reflect the anticipated website changes.

As has been mentioned, Nancy and her Board spend countless hours debating the merits of continuing to have a Comment section and how to improve it. If you wish to share your concerns about this matter, please feel free to contact me directly: [email protected].