Journal Sentinel to end commenting on stories, seek new ways to connect with and serve readers | Column

Greg Borowski, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Updated ·4 min read
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It is a fundamental charge of reporters in our newsroom, really reporters everywhere, to listen to the community. And it is the job of a newsroom like ours to provide a forum for ideas to be exchanged, tested and heard, for voices to be elevated and people empowered.

Let me state that up front, because otherwise it is bound to be missed – by some anyway – with this announcement: As of Thursday – Feb. 1 – we will no longer have a comment function available on our articles on JSOnline.com.

I do not view those things as contradictory.

Greg Borowski, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. News Department.
Greg Borowski, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. News Department.

No one should have to listen to a few people – standing bravely behind fake names – lob racist or misogynistic taunts at them, or others. And a forum for ideas should not involve running debates on whose mother does what to whom. Allowing that only elevates bad behavior and only empowers bullies.

Now, I know, there are many who use the comment function in a genuine, thoughtful way and will truly miss the opportunity to engage with others about the latest vote in Madison or latest Bucks move. We are looking for ways to bolster that type of exchange with new features. More on that to come, and more details below. I am sorry that others have ruined it for you.

In some ways, this is the inevitable end of a progression.

We have long blocked comments on stories we know are magnets for vile, demeaning and often racist comments – that includes stories where someone has died, and family and friends are grieving. Several years ago, we blocked comments on all news stories, as the comments often devolved into bickering, name-calling and libel-slinging accusations.

Meanwhile, our parent company, Gannett, eliminated comments at most newsrooms across the USA TODAY Network. We were a handful that tried to continue them.

But after closing down comments on news stories at the Journal Sentinel, much of the vitriol and namecalling simply migrated to sports and entertainment stories.

More: Journalists expect scrutiny. They shouldn't endure racism, misogyny or threats. | Opinion

You may read those comments and think it is mild stuff. But if you got a look at what gets caught in the filters, you would be appalled. Our readers – real people in our community who take time to share their views – are called racist names and labeled child molesters. It’s disgusting.

No one should have to read that, least of all a staff member here who is taking valuable time to go through the queue of flagged comments – a journalist who could otherwise be writing stories, shooting photos and editing video. That is, doing their job, and not playing hallway monitor.

We are not the only newsroom in this boat. Other newsrooms ended comments long ago. And others in the company will be doing it now as well.

New reader-focused features coming

Here at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, we have already begun working on more ways to hear directly from readers, and ways for readers to see what other readers are thinking.

For instance, we recently added a mailbag feature, where Green Bay Packers reporters answer reader questions. We may expand that to other sports teams, or even other topics and newsroom departments.

We also hope to add a more frequent, and more robust, selection of letters to the editor, in print and online. We plan to test a vehicle to let readers sound off on a question of the day.

And, of course, we will continue to be visible in the community, at events and forums, on radio and TV, or through things such as our Inside the Journal Sentinel series, which allows subscribers to hear directly from journalists about their work, whether it’s covering the news, features or sports.

If you have others suggestions, we’d love to hear them.

Meanwhile, if you are upset about the decision on comments and want to send a spleen-venting email that spews vitriol, calls me names and criticizes us for deciding how we want our own platform to function … Well, please take it elsewhere.

Greg Borowski is executive editor of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. You can follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @GregJBorowski and reach him via greg.borowski@jrn.com.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Journal Sentinel to end onlne comments, seek new ways to serve readers