The New York Times “public editor” writes of the paper’s tentative steps into having journalists speak directly with the readers:
There should be even greater reader interaction ahead. Mr. Landman told me in September that further interactive features are being contemplated. One possible feature he mentioned: allowing readers to comment on every story on the site, not just one major article a day
The fact that this is news speaks volumes about the Times’ slow start in involving the readers. But while other papers are way ahead, this is still better than we’re seeing at many. And it’s more complicated for an institution like the Times to open up than for a small daily.
We should enjoy progress wherever we see it, though, however modest it may be.
(Disclosure: I own a small amount of NYT stock.)