IT seems the fight is not yet over but, for now, Facebook has relented in its battle with the federal government over a new media code for the world's social media giants and allowed Australian news sites to again share links to their pages.
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This is a double-edged sword for local news providers.
There's no doubt Facebook has become a valuable tool for us to engage with our audience and to help get our stories to a wider audience.
Facebook provides a convenient platform for fostering local conversations and gives a voice to many local residents who previously might have felt locked out of discussions on the issues that matter most to people living in Bathurst.
And in times of emergency, Facebook becomes an invaluable tool for the local media to quickly spread the word about changing conditions, ensuring readers get information they need when they need it.
But for all the undoubted good that Facebook can do, there is also the dark side to contend with.
It never ceases to amaze and dismay how quickly any online conversation - even the most benign, sometimes - can be derailed by negativity, cynicism and even outright abuse.
Too often in the online world, simply posting a different opinion can be enough for you be attacked. Too often in the online world, simply being an elected representative can be enough for yo to be attacked. And it didn't take long for some of those comments to start appearing again on Friday morning.
But this is the world we live in and we must all take the good with the bad.
We will again use Facebook to help us reach our readers and keep our community informed, and we will do our best to keep the comments section civil.
If those commenting could do the same, we'd much appreciate it.
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