Moderating comment sections on news websites is a dreadful task. Newsrooms across America have struggled to figure it out, and we’re officially admitting we’re among them.

Central to our mission is inspiring civic engagement. We think critically about how we can foster healthy dialogue between people who have different ideas, beliefs and perspectives about the state we love. We believe that conversation — raw, earnest talking and listening to better understand each other — is vital to Mississippi’s future. But not at the expense of others.

Unfortunately, we just don’t have the staff resources to consistently ensure informed, productive, respectful dialogue in the comments section of our website.

Beginning today, comments will be disabled on all articles on Mississippi Today’s website. We encourage you to continue to engage with us and each other on our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages — all of which will very much remain active. You’ll also notice a new website feature below each of our articles: a link to our new “Letter to the Editor” page. Those comments will go straight to my inbox, and I vow to respond to them accordingly and share them with the appropriate Mississippi Today staffers.

Please let us know if you see hateful dialogue regarding any of our journalism. And as always, we welcome feedback or criticism of our work and decisions. Reach out to me any time at adam@mississippitoday.org.

Keep talking with and listening to each other. And please, be kind to each other.

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