But all forms of reader feedback have been steadily decreasing in popularity for more than 90 years. It's not the talkback that's important. It's the ability to gain some control over how the information is received. Community builds loyalty. Rather, the reverse is true.
Web publishing demands greater technical skills than does print publishing.
In fact, the skills may be less technical than those needed to publish in traditional ways. And certainly the theoretical mindset is far less complicated. Online is a medium of total individual expression. It should be a medium of de-specialized skills. Online journalists should be able to execute simple forms of presentation across many specialties rather than slavishly working to develop mastery of just one marginalized specialty.