________________________________ From: owner-culture-announce@listserv.asanet.org on behalf of Jacquelyn Cooper Sent: Wed 9/3/2008 10:33 AM To: culture-announce@listserv.asanet.org Subject: [culture-announce] NYT Interview Request: Online Communities (DEADLINE TODAY) Good morning: Reporter Alex Williams with The New York Times is on deadline today (Wednesday, 9/2) for a story about a young wife and mother who wrote a popular "mommy blog," but recently was in a serious accident and is in critical condition. As a result, thousands of fellow bloggers have responded as if this woman they've never actually met in person is their best friend: sending money, gifts, etc. Alex is looking for a sociologist who has studied the nature of online communities and might have some interesting perspective on: + Why people feel such strong identification with a woman they've never met. + Can such bonds serve the same role as real the bonds of traditional friendship, etc.? + Is there a formal name for the phenomenon of strangers who become obsessed with other people's tragedies (a la 9/11, the Asian tsunami, the little girl who falls down the well)? + If so, is this different because the readers of her daily blog (which talks all about the intimate details involving her four young children, her husband, her home decor, etc.) know so much more about her? Due to the tight timeline (today), Alex is requesting e-mail responses from sociologists knowledgeable about online communities. Using "Mommy Blogger Insights" as the subject line of your e-mail, please respond directly to Alex at alexwill@nytimes.com. Per Alex, your response should include as much detail and "specific sociological terminology" as possible, along with your full name, affiliation and phone number (the best way to reach you today). Regards, Jackie ____________________________ Jackie Cooper Media Relations Officer American Sociological Association jcooper@asanet.org (202) 383-9005 x332 Fax (202) 638-0882 ASA Press Room <http://www.asanet.org/cs/root/topnav/press/media> : Subscribe to the ASA News RSS Feed <http://www.asanet.org/galleries/rss/rss-2.0_feed_press.xml> . 2008 Annual Meeting <http://www.asanet.org/cs/root/leftnav/meetings/2008> : Worlds of Work Boston, August 1-4 ____________________________