We usually don’t scratch our heads over articles from the Online Journalism Review, but, well, there’s a first time for everything. The usually tech-savvy Marc Glaser takes a look at “astroturfing” — where letters to the editor are professionally produced and mass mailed to publications. Okay, we admit it; we’re being unfair. Glaser has written on this topic before — he’s just looking at it from another angle. We can get behind that. We like that Glaser points out that more editors should be using technology (that computer on their desks) to do research, rather than the traditional phone call. There’s a word for this type of activity…on the tip of our fingers…not getting it…
It’s not just newspapers hit by, we’ll be generous, well meaning citizens who can’t craft their own
correspondence. Blogs are being hit too. Open comments fields can lead to abuse…just like everything else.
