Sneak has read with undisguised contempt some new research by Avail Intelligence, suggesting that the role of the journalist as an arbiter of taste and quality, an oracle for the masses, is slowly unraveling. Yes, thanks to that damn Web 2.0 phenomenon, it seems that consumers are more inclined to get their pre-purchasing advice from social networks like Facebook, or iTunes recommendations.

Alright, to be honest the research just applies to music, so it doesn't bother Sneak that much, after all, most music critics are over-privileged pretentious buffoons who seek to name-drop and reference as many bands as possible in a single article to show how clever and sagely they are. But Sneak is slightly worried that this trend might continue into other spheres. Could the IT hack's days be numbered too? Noooooo!