Given how much discussion there is in the blogosphere right now about comments in newspapers, I think I’m noticing them more than I usually do.
I really like the way that the New York Times has a “comments of the moment” section high up in the sidebar on their blogs. It looks like this:
Lending high-profile exposure to good comments is one great “carrot” method of hosting a good comment section. Leading by example and rewarding good behavior are powerful, Pavlovian methods, and it proves that you’re taking community input seriously.
I know, I know, you “don’t have the resources.” Remember, you’re in startup mode. Time to invest.
Eat Sleep Publish is a Seattle-based blog that explores the difficulties and opportunities currently facing the publishing industry.
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Ryan 07.29.08 at 8:49 pm
This is a great idea and an incredible way to encourage people to think about what they are writing. Most individuals would be jazzed to see their comment highlighted on the site.
Jason Preston 07.30.08 at 8:20 am
@Ryan I think so, too. I know I would - I write my NYT comments carefully (OK, so I write my comments everywhere carefully) just in case they decide to highlight them.
Another thing that a newspaper might do is make sure that those names are links to the commenter’s web site, and remove the “nofollow” that is traditionally attached to comments.
Links from high page-rank sites are worth hundreds of dollars, so it’s like holding a raffle for best comment with a really good prize.
I think it’d be good to let reporters pick the best two comments on each article and post them in the sidebar like that. No extra staff needed, just a little programming time to build the system.