The reliability of web-based content

Last Sunday's New York Times ran an interesting piece on the issue of "trustability" when reading content on-line. These questions, which certainly are not a recent phenomenon, have been again raised after a "Mr. Seigenthaler...read about himself on Wikipedia and was shocked to learn that he 'was thought to have been directly involved in the Kennedy assassinations of both John and his brother Bobby'." The article is entitled Snared in the Web of a Wikipedia Liar. Though I don't find the author of the articles point to be particularly enlightening (or assertive for that matter) it does raise some interesting questions of authority, authorship and responsibility. Specifically, who takes responsibility for specific truth claims, documentation, and opinion pieces, and what are the consequences of this responsibility.

As I write this I realize that I have not yet formed a full opinion on the matter. Just offering up some thoughts and resources for the community.