The report, from the World Editors Forum (WEF) explores best practices for online comment moderation to generate audience loyalty and revenue and manage conversations with their audiences in an increasingly toxic online environment.
The three-month survey of 78 organisations in 46 countries noted that the majority of editors surveyed (82%) are persisting with comments, most in the hope that a technical solution will emerge to help newsrooms better manage and moderate conversations on their own sites.
The report, which can be accessed online or downloaded free, set out to update the 2013 study, Online Comment Moderation: Emerging Best Practices, and find examples where news organisations are succeeding in promoting constructive conversations with their audiences, building loyalty and making money.
Despite the challenges, many news organisations continue to seek ways to engage and solicit comments using best practices such as: