This book draws on countless studies and acres of commentary and discussion in the media, as well as my own professional experience as a journalist and my own research. I am thankful for the work of those who, like me, are trying to figure out the meaning of this phenomenon called social media.
Tell Everyone would not exist in its current form without the sage counsel of my colleague at the University of British Columbia, Mary Lynn Young. When I talked with her about writing about this subject, she suggested I write a book for the general public, rather than an academic text. I am grateful for her insights, wisdom and friendship. I am fortunate to be surrounded by talented and supportive colleagues at the UBC Graduate School of Journalism—Candis Callison, Kathryn Gretsinger, Peter Klein and Kirk LaPointe.
I am indebted to my literary agent, Sally Harding, for her guidance and advice. She saw the potential in my original ideas for the book and helped to take them further. I am very grateful to Sally and the entire team at The Cooke Agency.
I have been fortunate to work with the wonderful people at Doubleday Canada. My editor, Tim Rostron, motivated me to improve and refine the manuscript. I recall our first meeting with him and publishing director Lynn Henry, and their unbridled enthusiasm for the book. Thank you.
The seeds of this book were nurtured at the offices of Samara in Toronto, helped along by superb companionship, conversation and coffee. Thank you to Alison Loat and Michael MacMillan for providing me with a space to think and write. Thank you to my friends at Samara for their warmth, friendship and hospitality—Kendall Anderson, Ruth Ostrower, Heather Bastedo, Wayne Chu and Jane Hilderman.
I would also like to acknowledge the support for my academic research on social media from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, the Canadian Media Research Consortium and the Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies.
I would be remiss not to thank dance DJ Armin van Buuren and his radio show, A State of Trance, for serving as the soundtrack to hours of writing.
No acknowledgements would be complete without special thanks to my companion in life, Rachel. She is the first person to read everything I write, my toughest and most supportive reviewer.