Google announced that it will allow comments on Google News items– FAQ here. One of the wrinkles is that you must comment by sending an email to news-comments@google.com. That seems like an arcane process– email for Google?– but it is there to create a verification process. I suspect a slicker process will come as the system develops.

The PR issue asked on Twitter and elsewhere is: should PR people submit comments? Early sentiment reflects my own– yes, but be transparent, and better for the the client to do it directly than the PR agency.

Thing about that response is, isn’t it the same as common-sense policy for commenting on any blog? And if Google News is opening up to comments, why not treat it like a blog, at least in that regard?

Another potential issue: Google News items are from third-party news sites,a s we know. Will they be angry that the conversation is not taking place on their sites? Will they care? Some will.. what do you think?

Hat tip Steve Rubel.

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