Regan told of one columnist who wrote a story about the national dialogue on race. And the sky has not fallen. I think one of the best things about the policy is what it does for the paper's credibility. Simply seeing a name and phone number or e-mail at the end of every story makes the newspaper seem much more accountable. If someone offers constructive criticism, I write back and ask them to become watchdogs in their area of interest.
Time is one concern.
Flaming, too, is a concern. That's what the delete button is for. Such quibbles are a small price to pay for connecting directly with the public. If newsroom staffers and editors just open up to the possibilities of a responsive, two-way conversation, they'll find a dialogue with their readers to be terrifically rewarding rather than a threat or distraction. Regan himself engaged in an e-mail discussion with a young man who disagreed with a poll the paper conducted on gay rights.