The Minneapolis Star Tribune, Minnesota’s largest daily newspaper, receives 15,000 comments to its online stories every month. The St. Cloud Times receives comments by the thousands, as does the Pioneer Press.

But are they worth anything?  Or as David Brauer, media reporter for MinnPost.com recently characterized it, are on-line comments nothing more than “a cesspool” of hate, personal attacks and other sentiments that aren’t worth the electrons they occupy?

A distinguished panel of experts, including online editors, columnists, reporters and a media lawyer, discussed the phenomenon this week at a forum sponsored by The Minnesota News Council and the Minnesota Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.

If there was any consensus, it was that readers’ online comments are popular.

“Four to five percent of all online users comment online, which may not sound like a lot, but many commenters are active, repeat users,” said Star Tribune Assistant Managing Editor/Digital Terry Sauer.

There was less agreement on a variety of other points, however, such as whether comments should be monitored, and whether they’re harmful. More »

Participants included the complainant, Morris Kurtz, accompanied by the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities’ vice chancellor for human resources, Bill Tschida; from the St. Cloud Times, Susan Ihne, executive editor, and Dave DeLand, sports editor.

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Dr. Morris Kurtz appeared, as did Don Casey, executive editor of the St. Cloud Times. The complaint involves a claim of unfair comment in a newspaper editorial.

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Appearing for the school district was its superintendent, Roger Doucet, accompanied by two of the concerned parents. Don Casey, executive editor, appeared for the newspaper.

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