In a big step to foster interactivity with readers, The Washington Post's website -- washingtonpost.com -- is allowing reader comments on all of its stories.

According to a post in Online Media Daily:

The move comes after some early difficulties with users leaving inappropriate comments on Washington Post writers' blogs, which led to a temporary suspension of the commenting function. "We've rebounded after some early bumps in our efforts to make washingtonpost.com more interactive, and comments are just one of many reader-focused initiatives that have become popular and successful additions to the site," Jim Brady, the executive editor of Washingtonpost.com, said in a statement.

I checked, and sure enough ... there are boxes underneath each story for reader comments.

I'm not sure precisely what this means yet. However, it does show that major media organizations are recognizing the need to engage readers in more of a conversation. And this speaks volumes about the staying power of blogs and other media formats that support interactivity.

Technorati Tags: washington post, comments, media, interactive