The Internet age has challenged many of the conventions of traditional newspaper journalism.

We no longer have the luxury of time (i.e. an entire day) to put together the most comprehensive reports on breaking news stories; we’re now battling each other and electronic media to get breaking news posted to our Web sites as quickly as possible.

And as we navigate the changes that come along with being a news media company rather than just a newspaper, we are also working out the standards that should apply for deciding what gets published.

From what I’ve seen at newspapers, many of the standards that have been staples of the printed product for decades are not applicable to our Web sites. Perhaps the biggest change is an old standby — to have your opinion posted, your name must go with it.

Most newspaper Web sites, including ours, now have features such as story comments or message boards that allow people to throw out opinions, offer advice and ask questions without disclosing their full names. The popularity of these online features is undeniable, and to a large extent, the anonymity has encouraged an open and honest dialogue. But as this new era of journalism develops, I’ve also heard from plenty of people yearning for a return to the traditional standards. Starting on Jan. 2, we’re going to make a change that will attempt to do just that.

On that day, we will begin limiting the Two Cents feature to our Web site, www.auburnpub.com. Since May 2006, we’ve run Two Cents submissions on the second page of the newspaper. These are one- or two-sentence opinions that readers can call or e-mail to us.

We’ve tried to make sure Two Cents submissions are restricted to opinions on items that can be easily verified. No unfounded accusations. No attacks on private citizens. Criticism of public officials is OK only as it applies to their job performance. No submissions that serve no purpose but to be mean-spirited.

But while we’ve kept many of those types of submissions from getting printed, we’ve also fallen short at times.

And plenty of readers have told me that, in the long run, this feature is bad for the newspaper.

I agree. Two Cents does not belong in the printed product. I believe it can work, however, online.

We’re still going to follow rules for the online Two Cents #— it won’t be a free-for-all and you’ll still be limited to Two Cents if you call or e-mail a submission. I know some will cheer this decision and others will be outraged. I hope most, though, can see this move as an attempt to establish standards for two separate products. If it goes into the print edition, it must have a name attached to it. If you don’t want to give your name, it belongs online.

Executive editor Jeremy Boyer’s

column runs Saturdays in The

Citizen and he can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 231 or jeremy.boyer@lee.net