I believe that blogs, taken together, are a more reliable source of information than the mainstream media (MSM). That's a big topic, but here's one small example: selective editing that clearly distorts what someone says.

Here's my transcript of footage aired by CNN (per Dale Franks of QandO, who watched their investigative report):

John Cena is a WWE superstar, now recovering from an injury in the ring. He doesn't like being asked if he has used steroids. "This is a crazy question, and it's something that um ... it's tough to answer just because of the way society is now. The way people conceive things because performance enhancing drugs have got the spotlight and its a hot thing to talk about. I can't tell you that I haven't but you'll never be able to prove that I have."

Based on the report, Franks drew the obvious conclusion:

Mr. Cena was evading the question -- indeed, as much as admitting that he had used them, even though no one could ever prove it.

That was easy, right?

Oops, not so fast. Franks continues:

CNN wasn't the only organization that was taping that interview. The WWE taped it, too. And it's a good thing they did, too, because when you see the actual answer the Mr. Cena gave, it is nearly the exact opposite of the answer that CNN broadcast.

QandO embeds both videos; here's my partial transcript (with CNN's excerpts in italics; my emphasis added later):

CNN: Have you ever used steroids?

Cena: Absolutely not.

CNN: Even back in bodybuilding days and [???] days?

Cena: This is a crazy question, and it's something that um ... it's tough to answer just because of the way society is now. The way people conceive things because performance enhancing drugs have got the spotlight and it's a hot thing to talk about. Any time you see any athlete in any athletic venture, it could be the PGA tour, acheive physical greatness, something that is beyond the norm, even for a top-tier athlete ... it's not athletic achievement anymore. It's something that really gets me, it's he or she is on performance enhancing drugs. ... My answer to that question, "Have you ever used steroids?" is the only thing I can say: I can't tell you that I haven't but you'll never be able to prove that I have.

Because each one of you ... out there has an opinion on how I carry myself. ... I've been tested for drugs since I was 17 years old. I can take a million tests, I can pass every one of them. As soon as I pass it, there's some other guy on the other end going "aw, there's masking agents", there's this, there's that, I know the arguments because I've been in the situation. This is a subject that's very, very near and dear to me, only because: since I was a very small child, I've worked my ass off to get to where I'm at. And it sucks to ... have to deal with people saying that I rely on a crutch.

You know I wake up every day and I work myself to the bone because I love what I do. I got the best gig in the world, I love it. ... I take great pride in the fact that I have a God-given gift of above-average natural strength, and I show it off whenever I can because to me that's fun, that's entertaining, it's what I love to do.

One of the most important roles of blogs (and YouTube) is to show what was left out of a story. CNN edits out a clear "Absolutely not" in a sports story; I fear even worse for economics and politics.