What are we losing?

So the Web stole the Ring of Power from the professionals who used to stand between the average citizen and everything else. And why is this bad news?

Are we worried, as we read about the Reuter's photo scandal, that citizen journalists will mislead the public? Are we, as we glide past aisles of magazines that showcase the inner circle of celebrity love lives, worried that citizen journalists will water down the news? Are we, as trust in the media nosedives, worried that the common blogger will demean the sacred ethics of committed professionals?

As we lose ground to the average person, I ask, "What are we really losing?" The First Amendment is more alive than ever. Sure, people will post stupid, obscene and fake stuff. But how can it be worse than tabloid journalism?

As far as I'm concerned, the Web can keep the Ring.