The New World Order---at least as far as media is concerned

Civic journalism is becoming THE journalism, which gives hope to measly little stringers and free lancers like myself.

Newspapers are folding (no pun intended), and the field that may be most needed in society, the one with the ability to get information to consumers and voters, is struggling. Stories are still breaking, as people are still stupid all over the world, but mainstream media outlets may be falling behind the pack. That pack is the supposed lower-class, under-appreciated, little guy blogger or hard-working free lancer who busts his or her butt in an effort to be the first on the scene.

The big boys, NBC, CBS, Fox News, CNN, and the like, are responsible for fact-checking and absolutely confirming leads before they can feel comfortable running a story. This absolution of fact takes time and much more depth of reporting than what limited civic journalists can do.

But with stories like Tiger Woods' "accident" being broken by TMZ or other sketchy National Enquirer-esque outlets, what is the outcome going to be? Will journalism be changed by a few people who decide to quickly report that there is more to a story than a major player will confirm?

Will this question change the ethics of professional journalism?

I hope not.

I would rather see facts slowly come out as information is sorted out than to have to sift through tons of junk information to get to the real meat.

Does this mean I have counted myself out as a reporter of the news as a so called "little guy?"

Nope.

I just hope to become a high-quality journalist with the highest level of ethics possible while still getting the job done.

I hope I get the chance.