Sure. Let me tell you a little secret, that most people who write online news articles know but the audience doesn't tend to, as they simply do not know the stats.

People who comment on news and current event articles are roughly 0.1 to 0.3% of the readership. Lets take an example - RP writes some pretty amazing and funny stuff, like this one here. Three quarters of a million people have read that. Under 400 commented. Under one half of one percent, in other words. Sure - I could have used any of the guys - or Carrie - as an illustration. They would all show the same thing.

Of the ones who actually bothered to comment, about 10% are supportive or want to actually debate the article. 10% are obsessively checking spelling, punctuation and grammar. 50 to 70% are highly antagonistic, with their own obsessions and agenda that color their responses.
The rest would need the Hubble to see the clue passing over their head.

The simple fact is most people don't feel the need to comment on the news. It isn't like here, where people have discussions and put in personal experience to help the questioner or to provide an alternative viewpoint. News stories, especially from a large news organisation, are treated as simple information by most sane people. Sadly, there are a lot of less than sane people with computer access.

Personally, I use comment blocker for most news sites. I don't need the additional depression that the comment section on news articles provides. Because, yes, some people are nasty, malicious and downright hateful.