I think lashon hara should not be permitted. Anywhere. I’d suppose in the news section they’re more careful of what in published, us diminutive creatures cannot alter or edit the main story. But in the shmoozing section, where conversation by default to steer to various (unwanted) directions, more caution is needed.
Again, I don’t work for the YW, nor the CR (posting is not legally considered an occupation), that’s how it seems to me.