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TUCSON, Ariz. (AFX) - A Tucson newspaper has temporarily eliminated online reader comments from some stories, citing a slide into tasteless, vulgar, hateful and obscene language.
Bobbie Jo Buel, executive editor of The Arizona Daily Star, said Monday that editors will monitor comments posted on its StarNet Web site in coming days to see whether readers get the message and to determine the future of the feature.
The newspaper went through a similar episode a few years after the startup of its Web site more than a decade ago, pulling the plug on all its Internet reader comments because of similar violations of the Star's standards.
Buel said offensive, racist comments have become increasingly common, particularly involving crime stories.
One option will be to allow comments on only certain stories and columns, according to Buel. She said she remained hopeful that shutting down all comments from Internet readers won't be necessary again.
Over the last month, comments increasingly violated the standards, Buel said in the online explanation of the decision.
StarNet is owned by Lee Enterprises Inc. Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be
Copyright 2006 AFX News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
