Occasionally you see something that reminds you of why what you’re doing is exciting. Yes, this computery social media stuff is all very good, but it’s also radical, new and engaging. When you’re in it every day it’s easy to lose sight of that.

Which is why I’m so pleased to have read Joanna Geary’s account of editing a live feed on the Times website. Watching blog comments arriving as a news event unfolds is exciting enough - goodness knows I was excited enough when the key player in my Tweeting the Law entry decided to comment in person, magnify that about a squillion times and you begin to understand how it must feel when something really important is happening.

It must also be chilling, though. You decide as editor who’s going to get through. You decide who gets a say and who doesn’t. When blogging goes truly mainstream so that everyone feels it’s natural to comment, you’re effectively rationing democracy.That sounds melodramatic, mostly because it is - but it’s also true.

Geary’s piece is a rivetingly well-written account of how it feels to be part of that process. Highly recommended.

Tags: the times, newspaper, news feed, live feed, comment, comments, times, guardian, national newspaper