But wasn't the mass media supposed to help us make sense of it all?? To provide us with the information we need in order to at least think we know what's going on??

According to Chris Lapham, in CMC Magazine, defining what is relevant news is "now more critical than ever." In addition, he believes that "Throughout history, newspapers have excelled at collecting, record, and distributing information at many different levels and locals."

Along with several other techno-savvy journalists, Lapham believes that the newspapers' forays on the Web are a natural extension of their researching and assimilating tasks. "By juxtaposing the best of the new model -- computerized access, delivery, and packaging of information -- with the best of the old model -- insightful reporting in a well-written story -- a better hybrid model that combines the best of both is created."

The new model is something he and others are calling cybermedia. It's still in the works, but you can see its beginnings in personal news services and on-line publications.