I strongly suggest that you integrate the forum authentication onto your main site for posting comments on News articles. It is far to easy for people to post under false names with zero accountability, and I have seen it all to often. It would go a long way to cleaning up the comments section because some of the comments I read go so far off track to the point that people are insulting each other, and honestly, who wants to read that? I am all for freedom of expression but really, comments are there purely to comment and discuss the article. I am almost at a point where I don't enjoy reading the comments, and I think that has to change.
You will have more comments on articles by doing this, and you can also remove the forum link in your articles to promote it. It makes sense, if I read an article I then read the comments, and I can post my reply. Then I have a forum link where a totally different discussion may be taking place. Shouldn't there be more continuity? I think so.