I think that as information professionals, we need to reflect on encouraging the public to think in terms of what is authoritative and relevant information. We can do this by staying abreast of the news that is Hot & then by increasing access to authoritative print & online materials that are relevant to what is going on. Maybe we should be interfacing with them in social networking applications to help them as they are making those decisions for themselves.

In today’s world, everyone is the press and the public — both for the good and for the bad. Now we can have Herstory instead of just History. Groups which may not have had the same coverage in the traditional press now can get their say. However, that makes these online accounts more like oral histories — and oral histories are only as truthful as people tell that truth to themselves.

We as a society will eventually have to redefine — What is the truth? How do we determine what is the truth? WHO gets to determine what is the truth.

Our profession will have to ask itself — With so many voices out there, how can we provide the proper amount of materials so that people can decide the truth for themselves? Who really is an authority, and who are we to say that?

But we need quality assurance of sorts to make sure that the people who are speaking the loudest are telling the truth — especially when everyone starts going by it.

I know it’s a very philosophical discussion. But the philosophy drives policy and policy determines tangible action.