The Los Angeles Times went ballistic when they found out Google (GOOG) was going to add a feature to Google News that will allow those being reported upon to comment on the story.
Here's what the Times panicked about:
"But Google now is doing yet another thing that's bound to get under journalists' skin. This month, it announced plans to let
people and organizations comment on the stories written about them. For example, if The Times ran another exposé on conflicts of interest within the Food and Drug Administration's drug-approval process, Google News would provide a forum for the FDA and any researchers or drug manufacturers implicated in the story to respond, unedited."
What is this all about? Priesthoods. The news media priesthood is being dismantled, as far as someone being able to write or produce something about a topic, organization or person that is not able to be responded to. Priesthoods don't like people responding to their works. It undermines their priesthood.
Don't think that this isn't the underlying fear of traditional media. They've been the gatekeepers for a long time on what is or isn't presented to people as news. Those days are rapidly deteriorating and the old gatekeepers are resentful of that reality.
Every time a new way of offering checks and balances or reponses to stories are offered to readers, it weakens the old media hold on information and insight. This is a good thing.
Even the most studious, honest and thorough of content producers can cover all the sides and nuances of a story. To offer subjects of a story to respond is a great way to get the other side of a story, as well as a fuller look into everything it entails.
Something like this should be embraced, not feared.
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