In a technology-driven process of accelerated change, journalism is being transformed in the ways
that it is produced, distributed, and used. We are witnessing the emergence of new tools and practices,
phenomena that are yielding both a flurry of new ways to produce information and a redefinition of the
place of professional journalism in this new information system. While there is widespread fear about
the damaging consequences of these trends for the quality of journalism and the professional survival of journalists, we believe that current developments may, in fact, be paving the path toward better journalism and more independent journalists. The what and why of this statement are the subjects of this article. The networked journalism of the digital age is not a threat to the independence and quality of professional
journalism, but a liberation from strict corporate control. It is an opportunity for journalists to each excel
in a unique way, and for society to benefit, both from an endless expansion of information, and from
meaningful interpretation of this information in a world characterized by informed bewilderment.