User experiences with editorial control in online newspaper comment fields

Anders Sundnes Løvlie, Karoline Andrea Ihlebæk, Anders Olof Larsson

Research output: Journal Article or Conference Article in JournalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

Abstract

This article investigates user experiences with editorial control in online newspaper comment fields following the public backlash against online comments after the 2011 terror attacks in Norway. We analyze data from a survey of online news consumers focusing on experiences and attitudes towards editorial control set against a spectrum between “interventionist” and “noninterventionist” positions. Results indicate that interventionist respondents rate the quality of online comments as poor, whereas noninterventionist respondents have most often experienced being the target of editorial control measures and feel that editorial control has intensified after the terror attacks. We conclude that newspapers should pay attention to the different needs of participants when devising strategies for editorial control. Media professionals should also consider changes to increase the transparency of moderation practices.
Original languageEnglish
JournalJournalism Practice
Pages (from-to)1-20
Number of pages20
ISSN1751-2786
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 7 Mar 2017

Keywords

  • comment fields
  • online comments
  • editorial control
  • moderation
  • user experience
  • journalism
  • communication design

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