We couldn’t be prouder to announce that we’ve helped the world’s leading
cable news service - CNN, naturally- to launch a hub in Second Life. CNN
will look to those most familiar with the virtual world - SL residents
themselves - to determine what constitutes news in-world. CNN’s presence
maps to its existing and very successful iReport initiative, in which
user-generated content submitted from cell phones, computers, cameras
and other equipment is solicited for distribution on TV or on CNN.com.

When Second Life residents observe an in-world event they deem
newsworthy, they can take snapshots, shoot video, or write a report
about the event and submit to CNN with a click. Submissions selected by
CNN iReport producers will go back into Second Life as SL iReports for
residents to view throughout the virtual world.

The in-world hub includes a news desk where weekly editorial discussions
will be held and an amphitheater for in-world events, such as training
sessions and appearances by CNN anchors and correspondents. During the
weekly editorial discussions, held each Tuesday at 5pm (ET) / 2pm SLT
(PT), one of CNN’s SL iReport ambassadors (CNN producers and editors
with experience in virtual worlds) will moderate a conversation with
residents about the prior week’s SL iReports and upcoming in-world
events that might be interesting to cover.

The hub will include CNN kiosks that supply residents with a host of
tools to help with gathering news in-world.

It’s an honor to be working with CNN. But will James Earl Jones’ voice
resonate quite as deeply in-world? You’ll have to see for yourself…