It’s a question bloggers will be asking of journalists, I suspect, after this story from the Guardian about NoW senior journalists being arrested in London for questioning around the phone-hacking scandal.

It appears that yet another blow has been struck to journalistic integrity and supposed objectivity, if the main elements of the Guardian’s reportage are to be taken as stringently accurate.

Both journalists have denied any wrong-doing, and presented themselves for questioning at two London police stations, according to the report.

At a time when news bloggers and online journalists are increasing and posting outstanding content – see a Top 10 list here from the excellent Fleet Street Blues – it’s a time when traditional newspaper journalism really needs to be stepping up to the mark and demonstrating the very best qualities and principles of good journalism.

Rather than highlighting the very worst elements of what’s seen externally across the globe at times as a ‘grubby’ British Press pack in action on a daily basis.

I’ve been there, I’ve seen it, I’ve experienced the horror, the horror. I was lucky enough to get out, get online, and get blogging.

I’m predicting – in light of today’s Guardian story – that news bloggers and online reportage will overtake traditional journalists in the trust stakes.

If I were one of the disillusioned, disinterested, and disloyal readers of print Press, I’d be taking my attention elsewhere.

Online, for starters – oh, hang on, that’s already happening.

As Jack Nicholson said when playing the Joker in Batman: “Hubba, hubba, hubba – who do ya trust?”

Judging from the way offline newspaper journalism is shaping up, and the measures senior editorial staff are finding themselves taking to get the ‘best’ exclusives splashed on Page One, I’d suggest that online journalism, reportage-based blogging, and media commentary-style blogs will be more popular than ever before within the next 12 months.

Readerships take years to hand over their loyalty – and they’ll withdraw it in seconds, as the papers are finding to their cost.