This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.

SALT LAKE CITY — Have you ever wondered what happens after you hit “submit” for a comment?

This April 1, we’ll continue our behind the scenes look at what life is like for KSL.com employees. Many rumors exist about what comment moderators are like, so we decided it was time to set the record straight.

Where they work

A comment moderator on assignment. (Photo: Roma Black/Shutterstock)

Some people know that comment moderators work outside of the newsroom, but they might not realize members of the group actually spend their working hours on a beach sipping fizzy soda. Comment moderators are paid millions of dollars, so back in 2011 they all purchased neighboring homes on an undisclosed beach. We haven’t seen them in person since, despite our pleas to let us join them.

How decisions are made

Kiki ponders the implications of rejecting a comment. (Photo: Anna Jedynak/Shutterstock)

The moderators decided there was no need to ruin paradise by reading comments, so they taught monkeys how to perform the task in their place.

“We let the trained monkeys push the buttons determining if comments approved or rejected,” one moderator said. “Sorry if Kiki has deleted your comment. She can be kind of a hard nose sometimes.”

Related Story

Behind the scenes at KSL The news is the backbone of society, the fourth estate, the watchdog, the last angry person, the other cliché about the news.

×

Related Stories