But as the bloggers' reports began to be picked up by the mainstream members of the fourth estate, who did challenge the heart of the now-toothless CBS report, CBS and Rather had to finally change their tune and apologize.

"We did use the documents. We made a mistake in judgment and for that I am sorry," said Rather. "It was an error that was made, however, in good faith and in the spirit of trying to carry on a CBS News tradition of investigative reporting without fear or favoritism."

A tepid apology, as apologies go, but an "I'm sorry" nonetheless, and one that may never have been tendered without this new breed of watchdog ready to pounce on anything that looks suspicious and they don't agree with.

The grapevine as we've known it may never be the same.

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Lee Benson's column runs Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Please send e-mail to benson@desnews.com and faxes to 801-237-2527.