Washington Post Ombudsman Andy Alexander raised the issue in a Sunday column of Web traffic demands sometimes driving content too much.

He also cited newsroom staffers who are worried such approaches may cheapen the product.

“In the Internet age, readers rule. And with The Post's future so dependent on growing its Web audience, why shouldn't the customer be king” Alexander asks. “But this relentless focus on giving readers what they want has exposed confusion and concern within The Post's newsroom about journalistic standards. Many Web-focused staffers are more inclined to post a story that is not fully verified, simply because it's the buzz on the Web and will draw traffic. Veterans, steeped in a print culture, worry that a fixation on traffic-driving celebrities will cheapen The Post brand and lessen its commitment to public service journalism. If traffic ends up guiding coverage, they wonder, will The Post choose not to pursue some important stories because they're 'dull'”?

He later adds, "The Post wants to know as much as possible about what its Web readers want. That should include what they think about preserving time-honored standards and ethics in the online world."

Too true.