Press Release Excercise

Partnering with the McCormic Foundation, Washington State University’s Edward R. Murrow College of Communication will host a free Specialized Reporting Institute, “Reporting in Virtual Spaces,” on April 6, that will discuss the relatively new world of on-screen media outlets.
Two leaders in journalism, Helen Thomas and Bob Scheiffer, will discuss nuances in the world of journalism at the reporting institute. Thomas and Scheiffer will also each be awarded the Edward R. Murrow Lifetime Achievement Award at the Murrow Symposium the following day.
Keynote speakers at the reporting institute will include Philip Rosedale and Lane Merrifield. Rosedale will examine the new world of Second Life, an online, three-dimensional networking site. Second Life characters can interact and live mirrored lives to that of their real-life controllers. In Second Life, characters can dance, talk and meet friends, as well as shop, start a business, and even read the news.
Club Penguin Co-Founder Lane Merrifield will discuss their new networking site aimed at children and young teens.
There can be fantasy aspects to these online networking sites, but “real-world news organizations, such as CNN and Sky News, have already opened ‘in-world’ news bureaus,” according to a Washington State University press release, “that aim to document and report on the emerging economy and activities within the virtual world and second life.”
Among the places CNN and Sky News broadcast their news is the virtual world of Club Penguin, where they have “30,000 daily submissions from young readers.”
“We're excited to bring together many of the leaders in technology and journalism to discuss and explore this new media channel for storytelling," said WSU President Elson S. Floyd. "These and other emerging forms of digital news distribution offer both promise and potential for our students and for the future of journalism."
"Our reporting institutes are designed to be timely, engaging and insightful.” said Director of the McCormick Foundation's Journalism Program Clark Bell. “This event should certainly fulfill our expectations and serve as a valuable learning platform for the participating journalists."
Other speakers will include co-founder of ThinkBalm, Erica Driver, on “The Immersive Internet,” as well as Lila King from CNN.com. Virtual Journalists Bernhard Drax and Waner James Au will also present.
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1. Is this valuable to non-journalism majors, and if so, how?
2. Where do you see the future of Second Life and Club Penguin in 5, 10 years?
3. What value is Second Life to anyone?