One, you might not want everyone else to know what you're saying, and two, sometimes it's easier to say it over email. In sticky situations, for example. If you have a non-confrontational boss, and you're trying to get him or her to take action on something, just blurting it out may not be the best method of getting your point across. A danger is people assuming that because an e-mail was sent, a response is imminent. I started in the days of the manual typewriter in newsrooms, and the ability to communicate electronically is wonderful.
Email is pretty important.
We get digital files, charts pictures, etc. that we'd otherwise have to scan in to run in the paper. Andy Alford, community issues reporter.