Blogging

[Drip]

A friend of mine at a smaller paper asked me a blogging question that I couldn't answer. Perhaps some people along here might provide some wisdom into handling the problem.
It seems that many people are using the paper's internet site to take cheap shots at area coaches and the coaches aren't pleased.
Is there a guideline that should be used to post blogs such as a legitimate email address or a name?
I ask because my friend said several coaches have threatened legal action against the paper.
Thanks for the comments. I will pass them on.
Drip

 

[Double Down]

Re: Bloggiing

Thinkiing.

 

[Mystery_Meat]

Re: Bloggiing

A new application for the Wii?

 

[Appgrad05]

Re: Bloggiing

Fine - Coach screwed up that call on fourth down.
Not fine - Coach screws the AD's wife.

 

[21]

Re: Bloggiing

'Several' coaches threatening legal action? And he's asking you for advice?

 

[Drip]

Re: Bloggiing

'Several' coaches threatening legal action? And he's asking you for advice?

I think he asked my advice about what to do about the blogging. The comments he said have been pretty raw and he didn't want to get into a censorship thing.
He definitely didn't want or need my advice on it from a legal standpoint. I'm not a lawyer nor do I pretend to be one.

 

[Cosmo]

Re: Bloggiing

You'll also never win a spelling bee.

 

[SF_Express]

Re: Bloggiing

Without knowing what they're saying, it's hard to know if the legal business is a legitimate threat. My guess is not, but I obviously can't tell for sure.

There are thousands upon thousands of blogs, many with the ability to comment after posts. And you don't read very much about legal liability regarding them.

 

[Drip]

Re: Bloggiing

You'll also never win a spelling bee.

Never interred one.

 

[hockeybeat]

Re: Bloggiing

Your friend should not be taking cheap shots at the coach. If it is reader comments, web editors and your friend should be able to delete the offending posts and write an entry that says any libelous, slanderous and offending comments will be deleted and the reader will be banned from posting.

 

[PeteyPirate]

Re: Bloggiing

You're not describing a blogger. You're describing an Internet commenter.

And I don't think this happened.

 

[Drip]

Re: Bloggiing

Without knowing what they're saying, it's hard to know if the legal business is a legitimate threat. My guess is not, but I obviously can't tell for sure.

There are thousands upon thousands of blogs, many with the ability to comment after posts. And you don't read very much about legal liability regarding them.

I asked him about whether the coaches involved responded to the blogs and he said they didn't but held the paper responsible for "slanderous remarks.".

 

[Drip]

Re: Bloggiing

You're not describing a blogger. You're describing an Internet commenter.

And I don't think this happened.

I believe you're right in that it is a commenter who is voicing an opinion.So if that's the case, is there anything that can be done to protect the paper?

 

[SixToe]

Re: Bloggiing

Tryiing to figure out what the coaches would sue for. Libel? Neglecting duties of journalism by posting unedited comments?

Maybe the coaches could take an hour out of their day to edit the blog (BLOGS!). Unpaid, of course.

 

[TheSportsPredictor]

Re: Bloggiing

Did he ask you for spellling advice, too?

 

[poindexter]

Re: Bloggiing

HR should apologize to everyone.

 

[SixToe]

Re: Bloggiing

Apologiize?

 

[Drip]

Apologiize?

Ok, Ok, OK. Let's not run it in the ground. There are other threads for that. The guy has a serious question about something that could happen at other places. This is the journalism board where stuff is supposed to be discussed more seriously than on other threads.

 

[PeteyPirate]

http://www.niemanlab.org/2009/01/david-ardia-why-news-orgs-can-police-comments-and-not-get-sued/

 

[SixToe]

Yeah, you're one to talk.