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Online comments

Since The Post and Courier has begun inviting readers to comment on stories online, some of the people who were wont to contact me are now hashing things out in online exchanges. At first I wondered if the conversations would be helpful to readers who really have concerns about news stories. But after watching the number of comments grow, I am a convert. Often readers hit the same points I might have touched on. They don't seem to mind taking some blows. And readers cannot accuse them of being an apologist for the paper.

I hope to continue to hear from readers who want answers about the fairness and accuracy of the paper, but I think t he online conversations are a bonus.

911 Tapes

The Post and Courier has gone to the mat in order to secure 911 tapes that are associated with major crimes and accidents. The authorities are often reluctant to produce them even though information on them can be key to understanding what happened.

One reader asked a good question. It's one thing to expect to to to Charleston.net and hear a 911 call about a West Ashley fire in which nine firefighters died. It's another thing to hear a caller's tearful plea for help in a domestic dispute or another person's description of his chest pains. The reader feared a reckless use of 911 tapes might be harmful and invasive to ordinary citizens.

It is a situation similar to situations reporters face every day. The paper does not publish the names of rape victims unless they approve it, for example. The use of 911 tapes on newspaper websites will be a good test. I hope those making decisions about posting the tapes will consider whether the tapes are helpful or harmful and whether they are of a public or private nature.

Headlines

It was almost wonderful. Instead of a dry headline about the Democratic presidential candidates debating at The Citadel, The Post and Courier's 1A headline said, "Democrats.com." It identified the party that was debating. It suggested the new format which involved using questions submitted through Youtube.com. It was one word -- catchy but informative.

Unfortunately, it is also a real website. And while many readers would understand what the paper intended, some are sure to go to their computers and check out Democrats.com. What they will find is a site that does not represent mainstream Democrats. It is described as "aggressively progressive."

Real estate

When the real estate market is depressed and the paper reports on it, you can be sure that the staff will hear from angry real estate agents. Not only do they think the paper should cast the story in "a positive light," but they also think the paper's reporting is a main cause of the sluggishness.

Not yet during a strong market have I heard from a real estate agent giving credit to the paper for driving sales by reporting the numbers even though it makes sense that if the paper is blamed for the bad it should be credited for the good.

Having said that, there are always different interpretations of the same story. Today's Business Review is a good example. On 1A, a headline says, "A buyer's market for condos?" On the cover of Business Review, the headline is "Locked in; big jump in condo supply hampers sales, prices." And atop the story, the headline is, "Flood Tide: Charleston area awash with condos for sale."

All are correct. All tell readers what the story is about.

It is understandable that real estate agents get edgy when their business slows. But, as this story indicates and other stories have indicated as well, slow news for sellers might be good news for buyers. All headlines are not going to say what real estate agents want them to say, but having educated buyers/sellers has to be a good thing.

Good hearts

A few things that newspaper readers hate:
- Changing comics.
- Changing the TV grids.
- Changing the typeface.
- Changing anything.

Just when I think there's not a happy one in the lot, I get a message from someone like Susan. She read about the tough transition Vince Holback has had after returning from service in Iraq. She wants to help him and other like him.

The newspaper should know by now that there are tender hearts throughout the community. We should provide information about how people can help who want to. In this case, it will come after the fact:

The Association of the U.S. Army donated $2,000 so Holback could get his furniture from storage. Larry Dandridge, vice president of the association's veteran's affairs, has also worked with Holback to assist him in seeking a job. The association would accept funds to help other vets as well. A contact number for the association is 276-7164.

When to stop

The woman who called me was clearly exasperated. "PLEASE. PLEASE STOP!"

It was a headline in today's paper that pushed her over the edge. "'Please tell me my husband is OK' Wife of I-526 crash victim shattered by loss of 'soul mate.'"

"Of course, she was shattered! What else would she be?! PLEASE, PLEASE."

When I called her to talk about it, she admitted she had not read the story. She had found the headline too disgusting. I explained that the story took readers beyond the reports of which car did what and how police are investigating. It introduced readers to one of the men who was killed -- a man with a wife and a job and some skills all his own. I explained that his widow was glad to let people know that he was not just a statistic.

This particular reader called back five minutes later. She read the article, and she understood. Several other readers have posted comments on the story as it appears on Charleston.net. They were touched by the story.

It is indeed no surprise that the woman was devastated. But the story, in my opinion, added a sense of humanity to a grim story.

Hazardous duty

What newspaper reporting position do you imagine would be the diciest?

Cop reporters are at the scene of murders, fires and wrecks.

Political reporters are caught in the crossfire between Democrats and Republicans, smokers and non-smokers. and developers and environmentalists.

Sports reporters are sure to raise the ire of Clemson or Carolina fans who see as heresy anything less adoration for their team.

But the way things are right now, my vote goes to the real estate reporter. Every time the newspaper passes along to readers figures about how many houses are on the market (a lot more than last year) or how many houses have sold (a lot fewer than last year), real estate salespeople are on the attack.
They fear that presenting this information to the public will do harm to the market. They feel that, because they advertise in the newspaper, the paper should present stories "with a positive slant." One has called for the reporter's dismissal because what she reported was not what the agent wanted to read. (The facts were accurate.)

If the paper were to put makeup on that hog, the facts would still be the same. The hog would still look like a hog, and the newspaper would look suspect.

Funny thing. The real estate reporter didn't hear a peep out of the industry during the boom years, and the stories were handled the same way.

New Column

If you haven't had found it already, please let me commend to you Brian Hicks' new column at www.Charleston.net. Brian, a reporter for The Post and Courier, has a delicious wit and isn't afraid to aim it at people and institutions. Today's column is about Charlestonians. Coming soon will be Brian's personal take on Al Parrish and his items to be auctioned.

Not just here

I was at a wedding in Richmond this weekend, and a couple of the guests were lamenting changes in their newspaper. The front page was nothing but local news -- lots of it fluffy. They said it was dumbed down and they didn't like it at all. They just KNEW The Post and Courier would not go that way.

When I told them that the Charleston paper's front page is often mostly local news, and that readers who have been surveyed have said they want it that way, the couple reconsidered. Well, they said, they do get their national and international news  places other than the paper. And they really do look to the newspaper for their local news. Maybe it makes sense. (But they still didn't like it.)

Change is usually difficult for people -- even when it makes sense. Time will have to tell if the local focus is going to be the best approach. I think it makes good sense as long as the local stories showcased on 1A are stories of substance and not, as the Richmond folks said they  had experienced, fluff.

Reader comments

When you read The Post and Courier online now, you are given an opportunity to comment on local stories. Some stories don't draw any comments. Some are drawing some spirited online conversations. You might check www.charleston.net and look at stories about firefighting techniques and about sprinkler systems for some good examples.

The idea makes some newspaper folks a little nervous. What do you do if remarks are inappropriate? The staff checks in on the comments as regularly as possible, but an offensive comment could be posted and stay up for some time before it is removed.

Another concern is whether readers can discern the difference between information at charleston.net that has been generated by and vetted by The Post and Courier and information that is sent in by readers. I'm no computer wiz, and I can tell the differenece.

I think it's an experiment worth trying. Readers bring some interesting insights to issues -- and often reveal new information for reporters to follow. It's worth risking the occasional comment that needs to be removed.