Comments on: My Last Post for True/Slant http://trueslant.com/stephenwebster/2010/07/21/my-last-post-for-trueslant/ [Please go to \'Settings\' to change your Tagline] Thu, 30 Aug 2012 03:29:06 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: rawstorysuspect http://trueslant.com/stephenwebster/2010/07/21/my-last-post-for-trueslant/comment-page-1/#comment-1058 rawstorysuspect Mon, 23 Aug 2010 21:51:17 +0000 http://trueslant.com/stephenwebster/?p=2047#comment-1058 Stephen, I was sad to see that you are leaving T/S until I saw that you are joining RawStory! I love Raw, it is my number one news source and my homepage. I have been visiting them for a few years now. Other readers and I have some criticisms, though: There are too many fluff pieces featured which give attention to insignificant hot air coming from Sarah Palin, Glenn Beck, etc. Also there are often important articles hosted on Raw which do not allow commenting, and many readers suspect conspiracy by the editors to stifle conversation about controversial topics (for example, Israel). On a more positive note, I would like to say something about the 2008 front page redesign fiasco. The short-lived (allegedly $40,000) redesign can still be viewed at http://rawstory.com/08/ . There was a lot of negative feedback from the readers because of the layout, particularly (for me, at least) concerning the top portion of the page. We all loved (and still love, since its return,) the excellent editor-selected features in one big bold list at the top of the page, right when you enter. Now, while I and many like me thought that the loss of the wonderful featured articles list was much to bear, its return also came at a price: the redesign also boasted a substantial vehicle for reader-created content including articles and diaries. I think these aspects of the redesign created more of a community feeling for RawStory as well as giving the readers a voice in what their favorite news-site could be about, and enabling them to draw attention to underreported stories. This was a giant step towards democratization of the newsroom, and as such was an admirable goal. I have greatly missed these features since reverting to the original layout and apparently scrapping the thought of redesign completely, for fear of lost traffic. I suggest that RawStory try to integrate the two pages together, in order to preserve the best parts of both. I will email you a copy of this comment, along with a MSPaint-created amalgamation of the two pages giving an impression of what I have in mind. Finally, I would like to say that careful consideration should be given to the idea of allowing readers to vote for their favorite story. I am not saying it is a bad idea, but it has the potential to be abused by people intent on blatant and extreme censorship, as recently exposed on Digg ( http://blogs.alternet.org/oleoleolson/2010/08/05/massive-censorship-of-digg-uncovered/# ). I will respect the decision of whatever the editors decide in regards to this. Censorship a la Digg will probably not be an issue anyway, and I would hope that any such activity on Raw would not go unnoticed for long. Cheers, Stephen! Congratulations on your success and I wish you all the best. Love is the Law, Love under Will. Signed, The RawStorySuspect Stephen, I was sad to see that you are leaving T/S until I saw that you are joining RawStory! I love Raw, it is my number one news source and my homepage. I have been visiting them for a few years now. Other readers and I have some criticisms, though: There are too many fluff pieces featured which give attention to insignificant hot air coming from Sarah Palin, Glenn Beck, etc. Also there are often important articles hosted on Raw which do not allow commenting, and many readers suspect conspiracy by the editors to stifle conversation about controversial topics (for example, Israel).

On a more positive note, I would like to say something about the 2008 front page redesign fiasco. The short-lived (allegedly $40,000) redesign can still be viewed at http://rawstory.com/08/ . There was a lot of negative feedback from the readers because of the layout, particularly (for me, at least) concerning the top portion of the page. We all loved (and still love, since its return,) the excellent editor-selected features in one big bold list at the top of the page, right when you enter. Now, while I and many like me thought that the loss of the wonderful featured articles list was much to bear, its return also came at a price: the redesign also boasted a substantial vehicle for reader-created content including articles and diaries. I think these aspects of the redesign created more of a community feeling for RawStory as well as giving the readers a voice in what their favorite news-site could be about, and enabling them to draw attention to underreported stories. This was a giant step towards democratization of the newsroom, and as such was an admirable goal. I have greatly missed these features since reverting to the original layout and apparently scrapping the thought of redesign completely, for fear of lost traffic.

I suggest that RawStory try to integrate the two pages together, in order to preserve the best parts of both. I will email you a copy of this comment, along with a MSPaint-created amalgamation of the two pages giving an impression of what I have in mind.

Finally, I would like to say that careful consideration should be given to the idea of allowing readers to vote for their favorite story. I am not saying it is a bad idea, but it has the potential to be abused by people intent on blatant and extreme censorship, as recently exposed on Digg ( http://blogs.alternet.org/oleoleolson/2010/08/05/massive-censorship-of-digg-uncovered/# ). I will respect the decision of whatever the editors decide in regards to this. Censorship a la Digg will probably not be an issue anyway, and I would hope that any such activity on Raw would not go unnoticed for long.

Cheers, Stephen! Congratulations on your success and I wish you all the best.
Love is the Law, Love under Will.

Signed,
The RawStorySuspect

]]> By: Michael Roston http://trueslant.com/stephenwebster/2010/07/21/my-last-post-for-trueslant/comment-page-1/#comment-1029 Michael Roston Thu, 22 Jul 2010 15:13:56 +0000 http://trueslant.com/stephenwebster/?p=2047#comment-1029 Farewell Stephen, but not goodbye - I look forward to following your accelerated output on Raw. Your willingness and ability to get to the heart of untold stories deserves a good home, and I'm glad they'll be providing it! Farewell Stephen, but not goodbye – I look forward to following your accelerated output on Raw. Your willingness and ability to get to the heart of untold stories deserves a good home, and I’m glad they’ll be providing it!

]]> By: Kim Lancaster http://trueslant.com/stephenwebster/2010/07/21/my-last-post-for-trueslant/comment-page-1/#comment-1027 Kim Lancaster Thu, 22 Jul 2010 12:47:29 +0000 http://trueslant.com/stephenwebster/?p=2047#comment-1027 I haven't always agreed with you, but have always respected your earnest opinions and writing style. I'm sure that I'll continues to read your work in the future. Good luck! I haven’t always agreed with you, but have always respected your earnest opinions and writing style. I’m sure that I’ll continues to read your work in the future. Good luck!

]]> By: ncfrommke http://trueslant.com/stephenwebster/2010/07/21/my-last-post-for-trueslant/comment-page-1/#comment-1023 ncfrommke Thu, 22 Jul 2010 04:41:57 +0000 http://trueslant.com/stephenwebster/?p=2047#comment-1023 I already read RawStory, so here's another reader you won't be losing. Best of luck. I already read RawStory, so here’s another reader you won’t be losing. Best of luck.

]]> By: <fb:name linked="false" useyou="false" uid="1">David Morris</fb:name> http://trueslant.com/stephenwebster/2010/07/21/my-last-post-for-trueslant/comment-page-1/#comment-1017 David Morris Wed, 21 Jul 2010 23:56:42 +0000 http://trueslant.com/stephenwebster/?p=2047#comment-1017 Sad to see you go, Webster. I've loved your stuff on here. Now I have to rely on Sullivan to get the scoop on you and that's just awful. :) RawStory is already bookmarked. Sad to see you go, Webster. I’ve loved your stuff on here. Now I have to rely on Sullivan to get the scoop on you and that’s just awful. :)

RawStory is already bookmarked.

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