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Newspaper Locked In Legal Fight Over Online Comments

The Spokesman Review based in Spokane, Washington finds itself in the middle of a lawsuit. A judge ruled Tuesday that the newspaper, which serves Idaho, must turn over any information identifying an anonymous commenter on one of the newspaper’s blogs. That’s after the person wrote a disparaging comment about the chairwoman of the Kootenai County Republican Party.  The GOP chair has since brought a libel suit.  Gary Graham is the editor of the paper.  He says the case began in February.

The paper has two weeks to decide whether to turn over information or appeal the ruling. 

Kelly McBride worked at the Spokesman Review ten years ago.  She's now the senior faculty for ethics at the Poynter Institute - a school that teaches journalists and media leaders.

She says it’s interesting that the Spokesman Review wants to treat people who comment on a story as sources, because many newspapers are split on this issue.  “That’s because you don’t enter into an explicit arrangement with them, you don’t necessarily have any promise that you make ahead of time that you’ll keep their identity private.” 

McBride says many news organizations now require people who want to comment on a story or blog to log in to their sites through Facebook or other social media using their real names.  That’s in part to avoid conflicts over anonymous comments.

Copyright 2012 Boise State Public Radio

As Senior Producer of our live daily talk show Idaho Matters, I’m able to indulge my love of storytelling and share all kinds of information (I was probably a Town Crier in a past life!). My career has allowed me to learn something new everyday and to share that knowledge with all my friends on the radio.

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