Media Were P-I Staffers Commenting Anonymously on the P-I’s Own Blogs?
posted by on May 10 at 13:17 PM
Reporters have gotten in serious trouble for this type of thing before. On Tuesday, according to a source in the local media world, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer sent this email reminder to its staff:
From: Nicolosi, MichelleSent: Tuesday, May 08, 2007 11:48 PM
To: PiStaff
Subject: Staff comments on seattlepi.com
Hi all,Just a quick reminder: PI staff should not post comments to forums or soundoffs, and should not post photos to myseattlepix.com. You should also not post comments on other reporters’ blogs.
In general, you should not post anything to seattlepi.com that is not read first by your editor. You should not post as “anonymous” or under a pseudonym anywhere on the site. Please see me if you have any questions.
Thanks much!
Michelle
It’s hard to tell exactly what precipitated this email. Were members of the P-I staff trying to drive up the P-I’s blog comments count by commenting anonymously (or under pseudonyms) on each others’ posts? Were P-I staffers sniping at each other in the comments under pseudonyms and causing morale problems? Were P-I staffers popping up as anonymous trolls on the blogs of non-P-I reporters? Did anyone get caught red handed?
It’s almost as intriguing as the whole lawn-pissing mystery — but, like the lawn-pissing mystery, I don’t expect this one to be solved any time soon. (Although I do have an email in to Michelle Nicolosi about this, and will update if I hear anything back.)
UPDATE: Michelle Nicolosi replies, via email:
Hi Eli,I did send that policy note to staff. I send out policy reminders all the time.
I blame the Pretzeldent for the lack of morals ...
Josh - There's nothing unseemly going on. There can't be. No one, PI employee or otherwise, ever comments on the PI's blogs. Except for Will, of course, who comments on everyone's blog.
Sorry, Eli. I meant to address it to you, not Josh.
This conflict of interest is simply a microcosm of the even bigger conflict of interest problem with writers and discussion participants that mainstream blogs and mainstream media faces today... including this rag.
The PI has a blog? Wow, I learn so much here, thanks Slog!
I'm not surprised and I don't see it as a big deal. All PI employees have their own opinions- writers, editors, graphic designers, even the interns and mail kids. Anyone with a computer over there reads their website and their blogs and they're going to want to share their opinion, or in the case of the writers, defend their story. What's the problem with allowing them to comment if it gets an active discussion going?
The PI has a blog?
The Stranger staff would never try to drive up the Slog's comment count by commenting under pseudonyms on each others' posts - would they? Cute attempt at trying to "stir the turd" as you guys as desperately do, what - about once or twice a week here. Oooooh, drama! (insert that "jazz hands" gesture here)
The PI has a ridiculous amount of blogs, rather "reader blogs" and "staff blogs" and "Sound Offs". Way too many, but not one on Horsey, or at least a comments thread beneath the cartoon. Shit, they are asking for people to host and share their own blogs through the PI's. Neat idea but... I don't wanna get sucked into the Kent house mom blog.
They are pretty desperate and it show on the web version of the paper, sadly. Still the paper of record for me.
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