Preston P. Forman, a reporter for the Standard-Times of New Bedford, Mass., recounted two instances where the Internet helped his small newspaper get the story in a hurry.
When a television station license was sold, he needed to find someone at the Federal Communications Commission - an agency he had never covered. He went to http://www.fcc.gov, found the agency's internal phone directory, and got the right official quickly.
Another time, there was a dispute over the lack of accessibility at town buildings for the disabled. He went to http://www.usdoj.gov, and, a few clicks later, got details on what the Americans with Disabilities Act means for municipalities.