Reporters’ Roundtable

Posted Thursday, April 8, 2010

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A showdown looms between the governor and the state highway patrol. Bucking the recession just a bit, local manufacturers hang out the help wanted sign, and Cleveland officials launch an investigation into possible police department negligence in a homicide investigation. Thursday morning at 9 join host Dan Moulthrop and reporters from across the region to discuss those stories, the legacy of the Ohio Supreme Court chief justice and interview with Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

Guests

Dan Shingler, Crain's Cleveland Business
Kevin O'Brien, The Plain Dealer
Aaron Marshall, The Plain Dealer

Additional Information

More information about Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and the Eco Watch Green Gala, Friday, April 9 at 7 p.m.

Please follow our community discussion rules when composing your comments.

Matthew jones 9:13 AM 4/8/10

"All of these criminals committing crimes (murder) against women must stop. Sowell, Essa and now, this moron. None of them should get out of prison, EVER.”

posted by “lawmiss” February 19, 2010
http://connect.cleveland.com/user/lawmiss/index.html

And she is the judge for Sowell’s case?

Matthew jones 9:16 AM 4/8/10

The policy goes on to state: “In addition, we reserve the right to use the information we collect about your computer, which may at times be able to identify you, for any lawful business purpose. . .”

purposes like reporting the news, i assume.

matthew jones 9:19 AM 4/8/10

I notice Kevin O’Brien is on the show. I’m not sure what he has to do with the news, but I’d like to know if since he says that cold weather during winter months is evidence that global warming does not exist; is he now, followng his own logic, going to write about how global warming must exist due to all the record highs we’ve had recently?

Patrick McGraw 9:32 AM 4/8/10

What were you thinking, Dan? The first 10 minutes of the show this morning was a complete waste of time. The highlight was the participation of Ms. Goldberg, who called in to say she couldn’t say anything. The PD’s rather thorough botching of this important story is well worth discussing, but obviously the discussion has to be by people not employed by the PD.

Eric 9:43 AM 4/8/10

This story really calls into question the appropriateness of anonymous comment boards on newspaper websites.

In my opinion they are not appropriate.

I have no problem with comment sites that identify the speaker, but these anonymous comments are trouble and toxic.

It isn’t just the PD.

Right now the Beacon Journal has on its site, Ohio.com, comments on a completed criminal trial. It was a sensitive matter involving abortion and clinic protesters.

On the comments one finds messages (lots of them) from someone claiming to be the defendant, and then comments from people identifying themselves as jurors, who seem to have enough information on what went on in the jury room that it’s likely that they are who they say they are.

Now, neither are violating any law by posting, but they are certainly violating good sense and calling the trial process and the rights of all parties into question.

By publishing things like this, the publisher has some liability.

Newspapers are desperate for revenue and seem to be willing to do whatever it takes to get eyeballs and ad revenue, no matter the consequences.

If newspapers are going to act this way, they need to be held accountable when things go wrong. For that reason alone, the suit against the PD should go forward. Maybe, even if the PD is not found liable for wrongdoing, they will reconsider their bad decision to post anonymous comments.

ERIC RESNICK, Canton