I find this an important site, which surveys major trends in the news.

One trend mentioned is the major change brought by the internet whereby news consumers (us) can access so many online sources. We can see the raw materials of stories like blogs from people in Iraq, both soldiers and Iraqi citizens. While most are not so dedicated to finding grass root sources, some do.

The media did a great service to the country by bringing out the Abu Ghraib prison scandal (http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/?040510fa_fact).

But the trend toward fragmentation from that long-ago time when Walter Chronkite could end his newscast with "That's the way it is" has made almost every citizen a unique news assembler. Google News is here: http://googlenews.com where you can tell Google your interest and google gives you want you want, not what an editor thinks you need to know.

Pay close attention to the section on the "five Major Trends" and post your reflection on several of the trends.

We will be returning to this site from time to time, so careful reading will help you along the way.