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News bringing an end to anonymous commenting

Anonymous commenting on Black Press website to come to an end

For the last few years, as our family of Black Press websites have garnered more attention, some readers have raised concerns about one issue in particular – the fact we allow visitors to post anonymous comments.

The policy has led to some unpleasant and mean-spirited postings. It’s also raised an inconsistency in our Black Press brand.

Our community newspapers don’t print anonymous letters, yet we’ve allowed our websites to become a place where people can hide their identity while occasionally taking shots at one another.

Starting Dec. 1, that policy will change.

People will only be able to comment by using their Facebook account, which means their name, often even their photograph, will be linked to the statements they post.

We are not alone in making this shift. Several media companies, equally troubled by the vitriolic trend of anonymous comments, are turning to Facebook to power their website commenting.

All of Black Press papers in Alberta and Washington State have made the switch. These sister publications have continued to see spirited discourse among those who post comments, yet the discourse is at a much higher level, and commentators are generally well-mannered and on-topic.

This new approach won’t be perfect. People without a Facebook account won’t be able to participate in online discussions.

For those of you who choose not to create a Facebook account, remember we will continue to run Letters to the Editor in print – you can submit them to the newsroom of your choice.

So please continue to be a part of the discussion. Your comments are part of an important dialogue that enlivens and enriches civic life in our communities. We attempted to answer most common questions online at the following link: http://www.bclocalnews.com/commentfaq/.