This is potentially interesting news: a CNN publicist known as Karen iReport in Second Life just sent me word that the venerable news network which has a Second Life channel of its iReport service is expanding its presence from a single hub to its own island. "[A]s others are abandoning their presence in the SL community," she e-mails me, "CNN’s mission for iReport within Second Life remains as it did upon launch in 2008." Maybe, though I'm not sure "a virtual drive-in theater, complete with a snack bar and vintage cars" she mentions as selling points are the best way to brand themselves. I'd say a better approach would also involve streaming CNN news video in-world, and connecting Instant Messages sent from the island to the question queue of live CNN programming. (Anderson Cooper already reads people's emails live, why not take IMs from avatars, too?) That approach seems to be working for NPR's Science Friday, which has been fielding questions from its Second Life community since 2007. Anyway, the official opening is tomorrow from 9am-3pm SLT -- direct SLURL teleport at this link.
Pictured with me: Istra Ivory and sentient sub-atomic particle Pluton Karasaa.
Are these folks from CNN? I appreciate their continued SL coverage but...
Istra Ivory must be 9' tall and poor Pluton looks like the Hasidic version of Woody Allen from "Annie Hall."
Clearly, it's it's SL fashion-crime. Where's Iris when you need her?
Expect a blog entry, by my crew of hillbilly-journalists, live from CNN soon (vintage cars are just the thing to run Shine in).
Posted by: Iggy O | Monday, February 02, 2009 at 06:23 PM
I keep meaning to make more pieces for iReport.
Oh well. Didn't need to sleep.
-ls/cm
Posted by: Crap Mariner | Monday, February 02, 2009 at 06:35 PM
Hooray! I hope the reports they gather can contribute in some way to help get word out about the things we do in SL that doesn't JUST involve sex. It's their chance to do what Reuters didn't and fail to do: engage the residents.
Posted by: Isadora Fiddlesticks | Monday, February 02, 2009 at 11:43 PM
New World Notes has easily emerged as one of the top Second Life news, info, and update sources.
I've never heard of a RL news agency (CNN) write another successful news agency (NWN) and beg for a story written on em.
Posted by: Doubledown Tandino | Tuesday, February 03, 2009 at 02:07 AM
This is great news for Second Life. I think the suggestions for "...streaming CNN news video in-world, and connecting Instant Messages sent from the island to the question queue of live CNN programming." are dead on Win/Win ideas!
Now, if only the SLURL worked...
Posted by: Valiant Westland | Tuesday, February 03, 2009 at 06:31 AM
Here a working SLURL to CNN iReport Island: http://slurl.com/secondlife/CNN%20iReport%20Island/98/96/24 Nicole iReport has just showed up and informed me that things are go to be getting started in about one hour (1000 SLT).
Posted by: Valiant Westland | Tuesday, February 03, 2009 at 08:58 AM
The streaming video sounds like a cool feature. I could see me popping by to catch the news more often.
Balt
Posted by: Balthasar Bookmite | Thursday, February 05, 2009 at 12:03 PM