This story has been stirring debate since it was announced last night: Google News is going to allow comments on its stories, but only by those individuals and organizations who are "actual participants" in the stories.

For communicators, this is quite interesting. A way to respond to stories as they appear on this very large and influential news aggregator.

When I first heard about The Washington Post's decision to allow comments on all of its online news stories, I was taken aback. Pleased. But surprised, nonetheless...

During my career as a journalist, we were just getting comfortable with the idea of reporters' e-mail addresses being offered to readers. Broadly allowing comments on news stories raises the bar much higher, creating real conversations with readers and raising fascinating possibilities for communicators.

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.