Taming the Trolls: How Journalists Negotiate the Boundaries of Journalism and Online Comments

• In Event: From Trolling to Deliberating: How do Reader Comments Matter?

Abstract

The relationship between online commenters and journalists has been challenged as frustrated journalists pull back on commenting and introduce rules to make it more difficult to participate. As new rules and policies emerge, journalists engage in a public campaign to change how commenting and journalism are perceived. This study seeks to understand how journalists attempt to frame commenting and its role alongside journalism. Boundary work was used to consider how journalists use public statements about commenting to establish appropriate roles for both the journalist and the commenter. But these statements also represent philosophies about strategies, policies, and practices related to commenting. Journalists take three philosophical approaches to online comments based on whether they willingly welcome commenters; see the commenter as a threat, but recognize their role; or take action to keep the audience at a distance. Along with these three roles, strategies and professional responses to commenting are also discussed.

Author

• David Wolfgang, Colorado State U