Dealing with comments.

Comments are probably one of the best example of interconnecting. For news sites both positive and negative comments are a precious tool to monitor the audience's feedback and reactions and to make some self-criticism, thus improving the quality of reporting.

Every medal has its reverse.
The most positive aspect - besides increasing page views - is that comments enable civil discussion and democratic debate. They also represent a challenge for newsrooms.
The other side of the medal is represented by the "dark side" of comments, which are often based on emotional reaction. When commenting on reports, the audience can be offensive and abusive and use foul language, write insults or leave off-topic, unsolicited and unethical comments. Some people write comments just to gain visibility and to satisfy the need of feeling important.

How to limit inappropriate comments?
To avoid discussion degenerated newsroom can use several told and conditions, which are usually included in the news site's "comment policy" - read an example from the Huffington Post.
The devices most frequently used are:

• identifying-registration - an example from the Wall Street Journal;
  
• filtering by specific words;
• flagging or reporting as abuse" by readers;
  
• moderation, through editor's or moderator's screening;
  
• limiting.
  

Some of the advices above can be very controversial. For example, identifying. On the one hand, people speak more honestly and may feel more comfortable when anonymous. In the other hand, this could bring to offensive and not appropriate comments.
Then, the editor should ask himself "do we want a honest comment - whatever it says - or a constructive comment?". 

In my opinion, the request to identify themselves or the use of conditions is not only a way to keep the readers from posting inappropriate comments. It's also a matter of responsibility: readers must be responsible for what they say and be aware of the consequences their opinions can have. They should learn how to interact in a constructive way and be aware that one's freedom ends where someone else's freedom begins.

The total absence of any advice to monitor comments increase the risk to turn into a "chesspol". That's why conditions and policies are important.