I always thought that if someone from the best newspaper in the country contacted me, it would be because I was the weird girl who camped out on their steps post-graduation begging for a job.
This experience as a blogger for the New York Times’ political Web site The Caucus has been an incredible experience – and it isn’t over yet. On Tuesday morning I was contacted for a second time by the Times to do another virtual focus group tonight for the vice presidential debate.
Last time, there wasn’t enough time for me to pull together a focus group – but now I have the chance. Like the last event, I am going to open this up to online participation, but there will also be the opportunity for live participation.
Starting at 8 p.m. tonight, I’ll be logged on to AIM and several gchat accounts. Students who are watching the debate from the comfort of their own home can contact me at any point and chat with me about what is being said during the debate between Joe Biden and Sarah Palin. Comments sent through online medium could be incorporated into comments that appear on The Caucus.
I’m also going to have a live focus group event in the East Tennessean newsroom. I know that I Heart Female Orgasm is going to happen tonight, and I would highly encourage students to attend that event, but if students want to come by the ET office afterwards, they are welcome to.
I must warn you, though – the newsroom is on the small side. We only have one sad little red couch, and a handful of office chairs. I’ll be providing what I believe the Greeks called “nectar of the gods,” also known as popcorn and tea, but if you show up, be warned that you might have to sit on the floor. I’ve also sent an e-mail invitation to 21 leaders of student organizations, asking them to attend or to send a representative to attend.
If you’re interested in watching the debate with the ET staff or in participating in our own online virtual focus group, e-mail me at eteditor@etsu.edu. Read last Friday night’s Debate Watch: Student view at http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/26/debate-watch-student-view. I look forward to hearing from you.

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