Some observations from someone who went to Journalism school back in the 1970's and then worked in the business. I don't know what is being taught in J-school these days but back then the emphasis was verify, verify, verify. Verify spelling, dates, quotes, etc. Both the dictionary and the AP Style Book was/is God. While I am grateful for the spell and grammar check functions of computer programs such as Wordperfect (I'm no great speller), they are no substitute for using a dictionary. Google and Wilkpedia cannot substitute for direct verification of hard facts such as proper name spelling, dates or place names. Fact finding involves hard work. Interviews require personal contact and e-mail or video phone calls usually don't cut it. Ever hear of eye contact and body language? Perhaps the problem today is that both editors and journalists are becoming too lazy. The news media is a business and has to be profit oriented but it need not be moronic.