Under the Getting Sued section of Dr. R’s Journalism Readings, many issues come up regarding the importance of editing blogger comments and the risks that come along with true, but harmful, information.
In “Assessing Legal Risks and Guidelines for User Comments,” Al Tompkins stresses the implications of having third parties post their own information on news Web sites. With the increased use of technology in reporting news and information, non-expert journalists have the ability to post their own opinions that may, whether they are aware of it or not, can bring defamation; invasion of privacy; misappropriation and right of publicity; and emotional distress. While the posted information from online users is not directly from a professional news representative, news outlets should hold users’ opinions to the same editing standards that they do their own work. Since the media are responsible for informing the public, any posted comment that gives what might be considered professional advice should be published cautiously and under strict scrutiny.
As a journalism student, I find it inexcusable that news executives hold a common belief that if they do not edit comments, they are more protected from defamation and or/libel claims than if they edit the feedback. If editors edited feedback they way they edited their own stories, then they would have the opportunity to increase their reputations and credibility. In addition, if users knew that their information would be under strict editing standards, then defamatory and false information could possibly be prevented.
“Dialogue or Diatribe,” is a clear example of the problems that come with including user feedback and comments on news Web sites. While the survey in the article shows that most newspapers do edit, spike or kill comments before they are posted, Ellyn Angelotti points out that a majority of newspapers that responded are the ones that approve comments before posting. As with most other surveys, there is a hole in the results; they are misleading because newspapers that don’t approve or kill comments before publication aren’t represented.
While user comments can carry legal issues, sometimes reporters and editors are the ones who dig themselves into controversial lawsuits. While reporting the truth accurately is one of the main tenants of journalism, “reporting the truth is not always popular,” as described in “Truth v. False Light.” When government officials abuse their power, they do not always welcome media attention when their acts are negatively reported in the news. While defamation suits are usually held to the same standard of evidence as false-light actions, there is a lower standard of proof for the latter in Florida. News organizations, unfortunately, can be sued even when the information reported is true and accurate. While the standards in Florida threaten the ability of the media to report the truth, it also demonstrates the importance of careful editing. Editors and reporters alike need to realize the implications of word choice; for example, the use of “a man shot and killed his wife” should not be used in a story about an accidental death. Especially with the use of the Internet, news is a constant, fast-paced source of information that lives on infinitely. Editors have an obligation to make sure that information is true, fair and sensitive to others. In the end, they will protect their readers and themselves.
