Online Comments

Guests: Dietram Scheufele, Meghan Daum, Bob Cohn

Do you read the comments at the end of an article or blog?  Do you post responses yourself?  A recent study examined the effect of online comments on readers and found that nasty comments shaped the opinion and even a reader’s understanding of the information in the article. This hour, we’re examining online comments and the effect they have on content and the conversation.  First we talk with DIETRAM SCHEUFELE, Professor of Science Communication at the University of Wisconsin and co-author of the new article. “Crude Comments and Concern: Online Incivility’s Effect on Risk Perceptions of Emerging Technologies.” Then we turn to MEGHAN DAUM, an opinion columnist for the Los Angeles Times who’s been on the receiving end of both negative and positive reaction, and BOB COHN, editor of  Atlantic Digital.