It was an incredibly clickable story: a Harvard professor badgering a beleaguered small business over a paltry four bucks. After Boston.com broke it, it went viral with a vengeance. But then, at the story’s peak, the website went too far. 

Dan Kennedy  teaches journalism at Northeastern University.

Callie Crossley  hosts WGBH News' Under the Radar.

Adam Reilly  is a reporter at WGBH News.

Justin Ellis  is an assistant editor at the Nieman Journalism Lab.