From the Editor’s Desk: Regarding online comments
The editor of The Towerlight receives an email notification every time someone comments on our website, thetowerlight.com.
These past few days, I couldn’t log on my account without receiving at least 15 of those emails – some were posted on our rather eccentric letter to the editor about CIA experiments on campus, but most were focused on our recent article “Interest in white student union grows.”
Over 300 comments to this one article – and when it contains your byline, you feel a bit like a celebrity – however, after reviewing the discussion, I felt I should flesh out The Towerlight’s policy regarding comments.
On the bottom of every article we state the following: “By posting a comment, you acknowledge and accept the following policy.
Any material published on thetowerlight.com may be used in the print edition. The Towerlight reserves the right to remove any comment from our website at any time for any reason. Online comments do not reflect the views of The Towerlight.”
We at The Towerlight hope that our articles showcase the eclectic range of individuals and events on Towson’s campus and ignite intellectual discussion in regards to various issues.
What we do not want are personal attacks or threats against a particular group, whether they are classified by their religion, sexual orientation, skin color, ancestry or their choice to watch Power Rangers – (here’s looking at Senior Editor Shamus Kelley).
Though I have observed in my three years at the paper that comments tend to go slightly off-topic, posts that display an obvious viciousness and lend themselves to hate speech will be removed.
I have a vested interest in ensuring every member of our audience is heard in the appropriate fashion, and I have no intentions to censor in any form.
But for the sake of preserving the integrity of the conversations occurring on our page, some comments should be removed.
This is not because my staff and I disagree with those viewpoints, but because they are not expressed appropriately.
Some other members of the community may be deterred because of the tone within the comments section, and again, I want to encourage dialogue, not stifle it.
On this note, I would ask members of the campus and community to formulate an opinion on everything we post – whether it’s an article about new tailgating policies, or the most recent movie column discussing “Mean Girls.” Post and contribute.
The only way for us to realize our mistakes, improve our product and hear feedback is for you to step forward.
Have a pleasant week, Towson, and thank you for all your help.
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“I have a vested interest in ensuring every member of our audience is heard in the appropriate fashion, and I have no intentions to censor in any form.”
I’m calling BS on that. In the 3 years I’ve been here, no individual or group has gotten as much attention as Matt Heimbach and the YWC. That isn’t appropriate, considering how small a group that is. Groups on campus that are much, much larger rarely get mentioned, despite actually adding to the school.
It is lazy reporting and editing. And an obvious desire for controversy, which is immature and unprofessional, even in college students.
You aren’t encouraging debate or critical thinking, but division and anger.
To be fair, none of these larger groups do anything newsworthy. The newspaper can’t make any money without advertizements and said ads won’t be bought if the newspaper doesn’t move enough copies. No one gives a shit about your bake sale, but people will read (and get upset about, comment about online, send in letters to the editor about, etc.) about the latest white power movement on campus. I’m sorry you don’t understand how the business works, TU Grad Student. But this is unfortunately how the game is played on college campuses these days.
That doesn’t make the staff any more talented, though.
No, I get the business. But then they need to be open about it, and not pretend to be high-minded about free speech and freedom of the press. It’s not about civil discourse, and they know it.
Admit to yellow journalism, and be done with it.
Wow, maybe the Towerlight needs a new editor.
The Towerlight has a rich history of subpar journalism – a tradition that will apparently continue this year. Hell, half the time they can’t even be bothered to spellcheck their crap articles.
Low budget TMZ. Except not as socially redeeming.
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