Differences between Blog Comments and Letters to the Editor

Singapore.
OK, after my break from proceedings I'm back for my final ICA 2010 session today, which starts with Donna Stephens. She begins with the view that one of the functions of the media is the civic exchange of ideas - orchestrated for example through the letters to the editor pages. Today, blogs have taken over some of that role, and enabled a more instant form of feedback and conversation - however, they are also different: more anonymous, better controllable by the poster, and more immediate.

Also, few people write letters to the editor, while opinion exchange through blogs may happen at a greater volume or continue for longer than in the mainstream media. Blogs no longer follow the media agenda, too, but occasionally set it as well. But what is the difference in content between the two? This study compared letters to the editor to an Arkansas newspaper with comments on the general blog of another statewide newspaper, in each case relating to an (at first secret) $300,000 bonus payment for the University of Central Arkansas president Lu Hardin, and the events following these revelations through to Hardin's resignation.

So was there a difference between bloggers' comments and letters to the editor (and one which couldn't simply be explained by the different readerships of the two newspapers)? The study compared 25 letters to the editor with 96 blog responses, and there are some obvious format differences - letters to the editor were 250 words maximum, authors' identities were verified, and there was a limit of one letter per person per month. Blog posts, by contrast, are far less moderated - comments by registered users were posted immediately, and only very occasionally removed where there were legal concerns.

There was a 60% overlap in the main topic; 24% dealt with Hardin the person, 24% with his resignation/sacking, but dealt with these topics in significantly different ways. Both letters and blog responses were overwhelmingly negative, with blog responses slightly more negative still. The Hardin rejection rate was higher for blog posters than letter writers, but letters were somewhat more supportive of Hardin especially following the announcement of a recurrence of his cancer. Blog comments were also seen as keeping the story alive for longer. There is also a question over whether similar observations will be replicated with a more mundane, less locally-based story, though.

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