"*Perceived* "talent, intelligence and experience of the observer/reporter matters." This is another reason social networks, and Twitter, have become so popular. People want to receive news from people they trust, whether that's @cnnbrk or Brother Joe on Facebook. Smart journalists who consistently deliver useful and reliable information about one topic, and use social networks to share that information, can become trusted sources and rank right up there with Brother Joe. Dave's statement that *he* decides what he considers news is an irrefutable fact. Existentialists could argue that it applies to all of humanity. It's one of the main challenges mainstream news publishers face. How can an industry that pruduced a one-size-fits-all product transform to meet the demands of individuals who decide for themselves what is and isn't news? Brother Joe isn't likely to find out from his local paper, or a national news organization, that unemployment is growing in Sister Mary's distant hometown,..." - Kevin Sablan