STORM OF COMMENTS
Sometimes, our comments fields boil over with outraged, critical visitors, for example when reporting on a controversial subject, criticism of us as journalists, deliberate misunderstanding or attempts to discredit the newsroom/department. This is rarely desirable but it can never be entirely avoided. Reactions from the audience, even if they are critical or angry, are not evil. They are an acknowledgement that the work of the newsroom/department generates audience engagement, and are a good starting point when you roll up your sleeves to tackle listeners’/readers’/viewers’ viewpoints.
However, they have changed in terms of both form and content with the advent of the internet and social media. Consequently, Swedish Radio’s newsrooms/departments need to have a different way of dealing with them and be prepared when storms of comments occur. The severity of a storm/crisis can be graded rather like weather forecasts:
However, they have changed in terms of both form and content with the advent of the internet and social media. Consequently, Swedish Radio’s newsrooms/departments need to have a different way of dealing with them and be prepared when storms of comments occur. The severity of a storm/crisis can be graded rather like weather forecasts:
- Level 1. There is a permanent level 1 warning. We must be able to cope with this with our normal staffing and normal, continuous presence in comments fields.
- Level 2. Typical level 2 warnings involve controversial political guests, features and posts about issues related to minorities, and reporting on immigration and integration. A level 2 warning is handled with normal staffing, a high level of preparedness and rapid action.
- Level 3. A high-profile colleague who clearly crosses the line on social media or makes a serious editorial mistake is an example of a level 3 warning, with criticism more or less exploding and a large number of people participating and propagating the criticism widely from the start (extremely fast escalation). This requires additional resources and rapid action and involves the managerial level immediately.