A good example of what you are alluding to. 1998, drudge broke the Monika Lewinsky story. It was well known amongst reporters but it was not reported. Drudge changed all that and when the story was broke it could not be ignored. If it was not for the Internet the Monika story would have been nothing more than a rumor.
Incidentally, I found free republic via a link at drudge.
Incidentally, so did I
In 1998, as a result of his Lewinsky coverage.