The London School of Journalism
The London School of Journalism is taking their budding journos in-world. This great British institution has joined a long list of educational institutions and set up a college in Second Life, where they plan to offer free lectures on writing and journalism and industry issues to anyone who's interested.
The school's director says the mixed-medium of sound, text and the ability to see avatars' faces will enhance their teachings. 'We've already had an enormous response on Second Life, with between 500 and 1,000 people visiting our area each day,' LSJ director Michael Winckworth told industry blog www.Journalism.co.uk
Unfortunately he displayed some less-than-investigative journalistic skills by also saying 'I know of no-one else on Second Life offering open lectures,' despite the veritable plethora of same. But we all have our off days.
Inside the marble-columned building are some somewhat-stark interview rooms and gathering spaces. There's also a room offering racks of Second Life magazines to peruse (integration points for actual Second Life media, not just links to web-sites!) a movie screening area and a reception, which is where you can find out their current events. So ... not-so-integrated. Bonus points for a set of mazes outside that are an innovative orientation center created by Indego Hax Morgue McMillan Menolly Riederer. [Make up you're mind, Indego! :) ]
A funky-looking lecture theater floats just offshore, and a mini-disco reminds you that the build is in fact run by the of LSJ Student Union (at least according to the island's name and notecards).
At the moment they're highlighting their non-journalism side by running a poetry competition (hey, that's very SL!). You'll have to get poetic on a notecard and drop it in to their 'Public Relations Center' outside -- entries will be judged by the site-staff and a lecturer.
