Sylvia Stead, the G&M doesn't need to eliminate open commenting on articles. Just spend a bit of time and money to focus on banning those individuals who continually post diatribe (they are relatively few and are conspicuous 'repeat offenders').

Post a stern warning at the top of each comments page, and don't hesitate to cancel comment access to subscribers that refuse to 'toe the line' (the G&M can do that legally as it is a business, not a public service) !

Over a relatively short period of time, you'll find the usual suspects have gone and allowed comments to be more civil in nature.

The few subscribers lost to the above actions won't really impact the G&M's revenue that much, and may just create new subscribers and advertising revenue, for the stance that it has taken on abusive commenting!