For example, you can spend 6 hours finding out how many people died in the great chicago fire of 1871 (and who's cow was it?), or you can just make a quick call to the Chicago Historical Society, or even a local librarian.
The point being: the telephone (and in-person research) will continue to remain a powerful research tool.
For reporters
A Journalist's Guide to the Internet:
http://reporter.umd.edu/
The Reporter's Network:
http://www.reporters.net/
For expert opinions
Profnet:
http://www3.profnet.com/
Free newspaper subject search
Newslibrary.com:
http://www.newslibrary.com
(find out what a newspaper may have done with a specific story).
Miscellaneous
Earthquake Info
http://www.usgs.gov
Domain Information
www.checkdomain.com
(snipercountry).
Computer-assisted reporting
http://www.nicar.org/
SF Gate Election Specials
1999
2000
2001
2002 Primary
2002