7/3 (shorline)

For better or worse, it doesn't matter anymore who breaks a national story and "exclusive" doesn't mean a thing.

Locally, scoops are why we do the job. Breaking a story, working all day on it and waking up the next morning to see it on the front page is the biggest thrill journalism provides. Much like a great baseball closer, epic successes and failures remain in the best journalists' mind briefly before heading back the next day to work some more.

But nationally is a different story. When South Carolina's The State received e-mails a few months back about Gov. Sanford's affair, corroborated the story and literally followed him to the airport three hours away, it was a testament to the power of hard work in journalism. I hope they enjoyed that notoriety, because it didn't last long.

Obviously every big media outlet in the country played catchup on what The State broke. To its credit, The Associated Press followed up with a fantastic and lengthy interview with Sanford that pulled even more crude details out of that incredibly bland human being.

But as it always seems to happen, we forgot about The State. Given their size, The Associated Press, New York Times and Washington Post were all able to hype the story in ways The State couldn't possibly imagine. Although the actual affair wasn't confirmed until Sanford gave his rambling news conference, it was The State that essentially forced him to admit it. Most outlets gave credit to the paper, often just for the leaked e-mails, but it's a sign that no one ever really remembers who broke what.

And not to blame blogs, but they certainly don't help the problem. "Blogfrica" as the talented gentlemen at Kissing Suzy Kolber like to say, constantly kicks around the same story until few remember where it started. The good blogs add strong analysis, but it's a shame that credit doesn't always seem to go where it deserves.

So here's to you, Gina Smith. The work was well done and appreciated.

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Following Sanford to Atlanta