Weekly Round-Up with Melanie and Josh, June 25, 2021
by Melanie Jongsma and Josh Bootsma
LANSING, Ill. (June 18, 2021) – Reader reactions to this week’s news gave Lansing Journal Publisher Melanie Jongsma and Managing Editor Josh Bootsma an opportunity to talk about their policy for dealing with comments. Links to the stories mentioned appear below the video of this week’s weekly round-up.
Stories briefly mentioned
- Sand Ridge Nature Center holds eighth annual Juneteenth celebration (published June 21, 2021)
- Gina Aguilar welcomed as newest Lan-Oak Park District board commissioner (published June 22, 2021)
- Truncated season ends with solid showing at state for TF South Boys Track (published June 22, 2021)
- ‘Can I do fireworks at home?’, ‘Can I report my neighbor?’ — Fireworks questions and answers ahead of July Fourth (published June 23, 2021)
Regarding comments
- The Lansing Journal’s comment policy
- The story that attracted some disrespectful comments: Nickname-less still: District 215 board votes down ‘Redwolves’ for TF South amid objections
Examples of respectful disagreement
- From the files of Bob Malkas: The 1619 Project
- Frank Fetters’ response: “Revisionist” History
- Bruce Langman’s entry: Expressing disagreement with Fetters and Malkas
Anyone is invited to submit an opinion to Local Voices:
- Email [email protected]
Pop-Up Newsroom: July 10, 2021
- Josh would love to hear your story ideas
- Melanie would love to sell you an ad
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Thank you, Melanie and Josh, for that video. What a great journalistic tutorial! Love it!
It seems that you’d rather have people held accountable for their comments and be traced by the police rather then allowing anonymity. This is not free press. This is not freedom of speech.
Eb, you are absolutely correct—we do want people to be accountable for their comments. That’s the only way to have real conversation and real community. If people have a genuine need for anonymity, they can email us directly at [email protected] and explain the situation. Most commenters who have used fake names and email addresses have not been in danger of police action; they’ve simply been unwilling to take the conversation seriously.
You are so correct
I believe we should be responsible for our comments.
I believe we should be responsible for the things we say and represent our community with honor and dignity no matter what our Viewpoint is.
As pointed out in the video three different writers had three different points of opinion but they respectfully maintain decorum in commenting on one another’s article this is the responsible thing to do.
I know this is probably really quick shave for using this but in Bambi Thumpers mom told Thumper if you don’t have nothing nice to say don’t say anything at all.
Honor respect and dignity should always be present in a public comment or forum, keep in mind you are creating a comment that is going out to the community at large.
Think about your comment, check it make sure you are not going to say anything that will offend anybody, all in all be respectful and think of the audience at large it is a diverse audience with multiple perspectives.
Yes I know I repeated myself slightly but it is a valid point, while we may not please everybody with our comic and some people might disagree with us on our perspective or our view on any given situation, as pointed out in the video we are entitled to our opinions.
Ultimately the end goal is to share Thoughts with one another in a dignified manner.
Be blessed.