Maybe it’s the growth of YouTube or the ongoing race to broadcast live images of a momentous event, but in many cases, the key facts and context that normally accompany a new story seem to be missing.

Just think about the way the mainstream media covered the recent uprising in Egypt. I was offline when the news first broke, but when I turned on my TV, checked the breaking news on my phone and reviewed my online news sources, I couldn’t miss the images of people marching in the streets. What was less clear was why.

Why did they want to oust President Mubarak? What kind of changes did they want? What kinds of freedoms did they lack? Why now? There was a lot of vague commentary about democracy, the stability of the region and what the West thought about all this, but I really had to dig to find the facts to educate myself.

In the case of Egypt, the simple fact that thousands of people took to the streets in protest, was hugely significant, but without the right context, it was hard to understand the broader story—especially for those of us who may not know a lot about Egypt.

The lesson for journalists and professional communicators is simple: While the drama of the spectacle can be very exciting, in today’s complex world, the who, what, when, where, why and how, is still important. Maybe even more important than ever before. At the same time, NGOs, politicians–even corporations—also have a critical role to play in offering insightful comments and analysis. This can help provide additional context, while contributing to a greater understanding of the news.