The Los Angeles Times to include readers on its editorial pages

The op-ed pages of the Los Angeles Times are poised to go "wiki," using the technology of Wikipedia to integrate its readers into the opinion process. The section's editor, Michael Kinsley has already made a few changes to his staff and the way in which it functions, even allowing its writers a once a year opportunity to publish a column contradicting the papers editorial stance. The introduction of "wikitorials" is being met with mixed reactions from the daily's former Washington bureau chief Jack Nelson who exclaimed "it's absolutely crazy to have outsiders writing editorials," to Jan Schaffer, executive director of J-Lab at the University of Maryland who is refreshed by the idea that a newspaper is "creating new entry points for readers to weigh in with their collective wisdom and enrich the journalistic commentary." Still others, including Kinsley himself see it simply as an experiment that "may be one of those things that within six months will be standard." "It's the ultimate in reader participation," said Kinsley. With waning circulations and seemingly apathetic youth, Mr. Kinsley and the Times may be starting an experiment that could give newspapers the boost of innovation they need to remain competitive with new media.

Source: The New York Times