Hi, I am Matt Wastradowski, and I am Columbian.com's first social media coordinator.
What does that entail? I will oversee comment moderation on Columbian.com and serve as ombudsman for the newsroom online. I will also manage The Columbian's Twitter and Facebook accounts, and help develop the newspaper's new social-media strategy.
I'm also here to listen, get a feel for the discussions, and jump in and contribute wherever I can. I want to develop connections and relationships with our online readers and hope to help foster thoughtful, engaging discussions.
I've been with the Columbian for five years. Until now, I had worked on the Life and Weekend sections as a features writer and assistant. I'm a Clark County native, a Blazers fanatic and a graduate of Washington State University Vancouver's Digital Technology and Culture program.
The letters section is much better now, Matt. It had become such a troll-fest.
artimus — March 24, 2011 at 11:18 p.m. ( reply | permalink | suggest removal )
Matt, I appreciate your candor and your position with the Columbian. As for comments on the blog portion of your newspaper- if you keep it anonymous people will write and say anything they please (more or less). If you were no longer accept to accept aliases- you would get a much more honest and forthright discussion. However I do not think the Columbian is as interested in this as they are in action and movement within the paper.
And I think it is morally reprehensible to allow public elected officials from using your blog format to use multiple aliases to say different things to citizens who elected them under the guise of their true name.
I believe you know who these individuals are and I believe you simply choose to look the other way as to keep the publicity flowing for the Columbian. We in Washougal are struggling mightily to keep an open and honest government but find it difficult when some of our elected officials use the Columbian for contradictory and inflammatory statement totally in conflict with their positions they were elected to. And you are not the only person I have had this discussion with at the Columbian.
I do not respect the Columbian for this stand on the apparent misuse of free speech.
Mike Briggs
Washougal
Mike — May 4, 2011 at 2:19 p.m. ( reply | permalink | suggest removal )
Matt, can anything be done to stop our publicly elected officials from using multiple aliases and attacking people, citizens, who write on the Columbian's blog? I know this has been brought up before but it is such a disservice to have to listen to a city official on his public side and then have to endure this same person but using his mulitiple aliases. It has gone on too long. I know you have every capability to decipher who is doing this. We're having a real struggle out here in Washougal. The latest blitz of BS by one of our public officials is under the Vancouver Ethics Story and the Dancing City Councilman Michael Delavar story. C'mon, can't you folks police just a little more? I think you've done a good job so far but go this one step further. You would be helping the citizens of Washougal a great deal.
Mike Briggs
Washougal
Mike — May 14, 2011 at 12:21 p.m. ( reply | permalink | suggest removal )
Matt, and if possible, if you would let me know you actually read my requests below. I would appreciate it.
Thank you.
Mike Briggs
Washougal
Mike — May 14, 2011 at 12:27 p.m. ( reply | permalink | suggest removal )
Good morning, Libby, Matt, and any and all Columbian journalists who check this virtual suggestion box:
How about an "Back Fence" forum? You know, something that would give folks a chance to do what we do over the back fence every day with friendly neighbors: discuss our garden progress; share recipes; crab or celebrate the weather, etc.
We need a place here to escape the political fist fights that are draining as a steady diet.
Allen: I like your Tech Forum, as well. I can bet we have some experts among us.
Thank for considering, Matt and Libby.
manthou — July 24, 2011 at 8:08 a.m. ( reply | permalink | suggest removal )