An Ethical "Blind Spot": Problems of Anonymous Letters to the Editor

Opinion expression during social conflict: Comparing online reader comments and letters to the editor

“…Media gatekeepers favor letters that are succinct, wellwritten and focus on timely, important issues (Kapoor, 1995). Other criteria favor letters containing 'reasonable ideas' (Wahl-Jorgensen, 2001), and rejecting form letters, open letters to other people, and letters deemed too vulgar, not focused on current issues or containing false information (Reader, 2005;Renfro, 1979).…”

Presence of online reader comments lowers news site credibility

“…According to Diakopoulos and Naaman, "News organizations are tasked with providing forums that engender constructive discussions that coalesce and strengthen their online communities." 6 Before the rise of online journalism, letters to the editor gave readers a newspapersponsored forum to express opinions; however, while printed letters are usually reviewed, edited, proofed and the writer's identity confirmed before publication, 7 online comments generally receive much less moderation by news organizations. 8 Researchers have noted that:…”

Turf wars?

“…Meanwhile, some advocacy groups recognize that many of their supporters are uncomfortable with actually writing their own letters to the editor, but are more than willing to sign their names to prepared letters (Lee, 2003;Roddy, 2003) or at minimum replicate the offi cial messages of organized campaigns (Richardson and Franklin, 2004). This dispute of 'authorship' vs. 'advocacy' creates a concordance in which the value of a unique signature supercedes any value of the opinions expressed or endorsed by the signatory -perhaps ironically, more attention is paid to the presence of a name at the bottom of the letter than to the message within the letter itself (Reader, 2005a).…”