Once upon a time, knowledge was passed mouth to ear. Stories and information were deemed important enough that individuals dedicated lifetimes to their memorization and delivery. Eventually, we found other ways to propagate knowledge—through painting, carving, writing, printing—and so the story unfolds. Each new form does not supplant its forbears; rather it signals our continued hope for cultural and intellectual communication and endurance. The Web, email, even IM and blogging, provide us with the latest ways to tell our tales and share our thoughts and knowledge with immediacy and intimacy on an unprecedented scale. As a journalist, I am confronted with the downside of emergent communication more than most. While I welcome information delivered quickly in a variety of ways, I recognize that print time lag lets us fact check, copy edit, and think a bit more before we communicate. With the increasing pressure for real-time information comes the responsibility of balancing substance with speed.
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