NPR: Another News Wall Comes Tumbling Down

Another News Wall Comes Tumbling Down

Everyone in journalism knows that it's a little bit of a rigged game. We reporters always get the last say. Sure, you can complain all you want on blogs. Send in those letters to the editor. But we decide which ones to air and publish.

Well, Google may soon change all that. It's starting a service on its news site that allows people quoted in news stories to e-mail their responses to news-comments@google.com. Once Google verifies a person's identity, his or her comments will be attached to the story. The Google site explains that this "will allow Google News users to find out the story behind a story and to know exactly what the people in the news think about the news." GULP!

Steve Rubel from the blog Micro Persuasion is already worried that Google is taking on a whole new role here:

The Google News team now makes decisions about what responses go up and what gets left behind. Think about that. What if Google somehow gets scammed with an email spoofer and posts a comment they shouldn't, for example.

And what about the poor journalists? Will we get to respond to comments? You have to admit, those Google kids are canny. If this works, it will draw the debate over news stories away from news outlets and blogs and to the Google site. Another reminder to us reporters that these days our stories are not the end of a process, but just the beginning of a discussion.

- Robert Smith

2:37 PM ET | 08- 8-2007 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

Discussion: One party disses; the other cusses. Brought to the level of "Political Theatre" by Master Players of the Two-Party System, TweedleNeoDem and TweedleNeoRepub.

Conversation: The non-faulty and intelligent (also gracious) approach; very useful in forensic and other scientific research work. Found in official disfavor these days among the smash-and-grab power-player (aka "Schoolyard Bully") set now "in charge" and lying about EVERYTHING.

Rumors persist of Executive Orders designed to bring all of that intelligent conversation to a screeching halt; Administration spokespersons deny and change the subject quick when raised.

Go figger.

Sent by Rev. C. Walking Turtle Mann (ULC) | 12:42 AM ET | 08-13-2007

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