1. Philadelphia: City of Brotherly Love and Political Blogging Julie Still Paul Robeson Library Rutgers University, Camden still@camden.rutgers.edu

2. Sources of Online Political News www.politicspa.com since 2001www.politicspa.com www.politicsnj.com since 2001www.politicsnj.com Political community accustomed to using the Internet for local political news in additional to national political news

3. Online and Offline Gathering www.phillyfuture.org provided an online townhall for bloggers in the area regardless of topical focus or political bentwww.phillyfuture.org Monthly in person meetup for local bloggers, also regardless of focus Group activities such as Missing Monday

4. Well-Known Area Bloggers Eschaton (Duncan Black Atrios) Mydd (Chris Bowers) Booman Tribune (Booman) Suburban Guerilla (Susie) AdamB AfroNetizen GrassrootsPA (Chris Lilik)

5. PA a Swing State Pennsylvania is a swing state and thus receives attention from both political parties at election time. While Philadelphia is dependably Democratic the surrounding suburban counties have traditionally been GOP strongholds This leads to lively political conversation.

6. Diversity of Blogs Small head / long tail Conservative / liberal Individual / group Minority representation

7. Other Factors Large number of colleges and universities in the area, representing a variety of viewpoints Large number of entrepreneurial small businesses in areas that lend themselves to blogging (freelance writers, technical writers, web designers)

8. Examples GrassrootsPA / Keystone Politics PA Water Cooler / Young Philly Politics Blonde Sagacity / Suburban Guerilla YCOP Blogs / Lefty Blogs PA Pax Romano (gay), Rhymes with Javeline (lesbian), Afro-Netizen (African American)