Washington Post Ombudsman Andy Alexander took on the departure of blogger David Weigel in a column in which he cited the difficulties the paper has with journalists who contribute to the paper in ways other than the traditional staff writer. But his explanation might have raised more questions than it answered.

“David Weigel, hired earlier this year to blog for The Post about conservatives, resigned recently after it was revealed that he had written derisive and inflammatory comments for an e-mail discussion group about some leading figures in the movement he was covering," Alexander wrote Sunday. “The disclosures brought protests from conservatives, who said the comments showed Weigel was biased against them. It also prompted questions from perplexed readers who wondered about Weigel's role. Had he been hired to report on, or offer opinions about, conservatives?”

Alexander went on to state: “Like readers, some in The Post's newsroom are perplexed. Internal guidelines say reporters should not 'offer personal opinions on a blog in a way that would not be acceptable in the newspaper.' But they also are encouraged to blog with attitude and 'voice,' which seems incompatible with neutrality.”

He also later added: “Like all legacy media, The Post is grappling to set proper standards for a new, fast-changing era. It's most difficult for the vast majority of Post journalists who play the traditional reporter's role, prowling beats and trolling for information that enlightens and entertains. Increasingly, they are being asked to expand The Post's brand on new media platforms that don't strictly adhere to the time-honored just-the-facts approach.”

But he did not apear to give a clear answer about what Weigel's assignment was or how the Post plans to approach such assignments in the future.