My fundamental conviction in journalism these days has only been
reinforced by the outrages of Sept. 11.

What is it? Simple: My readers know more than I know.

The traditional media have done, by and large, an excellent job. I
watched what happened on TV, then read the print media for more depth
and context.

But the stories from real people in nearly real time, provided
through online links and blogs -- not to mention the links to
information going outside the normal "reliable sources" -- have been
complementary and a crucial supplement. I'm still waiting to see some
of this stuff in the mainstream media.

The caution we need to inject here, of course, is figuring out what's
reliable or true. I have higher expectations of reliability from the
New York Times coverage than a first-person account or polemic from
someone I don't know. Sorting this out won't be easy. But it'll be
worth the trouble.

Blogs, Web postings and e-mail didn't replace anything. They added a
great deal. Traditional newsrooms should somehow find a way to fuel
and assist that engine of information.

Dan Gillmor