I remember those reactions to 9/11 and it felt like media felt duty-bound to personalize the individual tragedies. That is really quite the contrast. As to the fannish response back then, well, New York's one of those real places isn't it.

Some of the Canadian media keeps track of the ongoing work in Jacamel, the hometown of Michaëlle Jean’s mother. (Michaëlle Jean is the Governor General who is the ceremonial head of state here.) I wonder if there would be the same level of interest without that celebrity connection.