Pseudo-journalism and the primitive mindset

If somebody told me that I'd be gathering infoberries instead of hunting meaty stories, I would have stopped sharpening my arrowhead (pencil) years ago.

Such is the new journalism trend: newspapers are merely supplemental information providers. People go to the source's blog for information. (With this in mind, I'm trying not to say goodbye to my journalism education!)

Wait a minute, isn't the information highway full of some shitty drivers? Who's to say if these info-speeders are any good behind the wheel? If somebody creates e-roadkill, doesn't blood get all over the web?

The Internet has its share of dark, creepy alleys. Why not point travelers in the right direction?
Photo illustration: Brian Lewis-Jones

Here's what newspapers should consider their new duty: become a picky, fact-checking aggregate of knowledge. Not just a creator of original content, but also a seeker of the good stuff – keep the crap at bay and point to things deemed worthwhile.

The concept is an extension of what (most) journalists are (maybe) good at: using their judgment. Even though we would be mere gatherers of info on the ‘net, together we could be a collective crap-killing machine.

Here are three steps to journalists keeping their place in the world, salvaging a paycheck and feeling like their lives aren't ruined by this www-dot-doohickey:

1) Find the news of the day
2) Use a source's blog for their side of the story
3) Report any gaps that remain

Think of it like to Digg or BoingBoing combined with newspaper reporting. If somebody already made their case on their blog, don't summarize, just link! Just like hard data can serve as the best storytelling method, a source's blog can summarize a sentiment better than re-reporting ever could.

BoingBoing is close: the readership sends in an idea, the editorial staff deems it BoingBoingworthy and posts the story with some links. Now, add some research and you too can be an info aggregate!

With this, journalists would open the gates for people to find good info and close the gate for nonsense. 'Course, a bit of reporting would still be required; otherwise, the industry would passively take whatever people give it.