EDITOR’S NOTE: Daily Herald changes format of online comments

Front Page •  Sunday – October 04, 2014 10:00 pm  •  David Kennard Executive Editor

PROVO — Our website will undergo a significant change beginning today. Readers who want to comment on news, columns, editorials, features, sports and all other content at heraldextra.com will be required to log in through a Facebook account.

The change is intended to eliminate offensive, profane and threatening comments from our website. We believe if online readers are required to identify themselves publicly to express an opinion, as print readers do for a letter to the editor in The Daily Herald, the overall tenor and tone of conversation will improve.

Publisher Bob Williams explained the change:

“The very foundation of what we do is for the protection of the freedom of speech and expression. This includes open and constructive dialogue between opposing viewpoints within our print and online products,” Williams said. “But that right does not extend to those who want to hide behind anonymity to make hateful or spiteful statements. We will continue to solicit and encourage comments from our readers.”

This decision was not reached hastily, or with little discussion. We have been concerned about the name-calling, taunting and impolite language on the website bearing our name. It is our goal to provide a forum for thoughtful, energetic debate, not personal attacks and emotional screeds that are hurtful — not informative.

Facebook requires users to supply their names, just as we do for letters that are printed on the Opinion page. We believe that anyone who wishes to make comments in a public forum identify themselves. It’s just that simple.

For complete article see…   http://www.heraldextra.com/editor-s-note-daily-herald-changes-format-of-online-comments/article_33fa8939-0f3a-549b-b41c-52496f79788c.html