Attending Wagner James Au's presentation opened my eyes to the extent and nuances of reporting in virtual worlds such as Second Life. Throughout his presentation he shared how to be a good journalist while reporting on in-world events and people. Sharing his personal experiences of reporting on Second Life events, he gave examples such as the French Front National. He also went into detail on the limitless nature of Second Life; people can be whatever they want to be and anything they can imagine.
Au also noted the importance of using common sense and not giving in to "in-world drama." Furthermore, deciding whether to identify people as their avatar or real-world identity can be a tough decision. He advised to just be honest and report the news, emphasizing the fact that the information received was what the avatar character gave you (as a reporter). He provided the example of a woman he met in-world who lived in a beautiful ocean-front mansion. She told Au that in real life she was homeless, living in a drug house acquiring internet from a coffee can and an open fuse. Though he debated the woman's legitimacy, he made the decision that whether she was lying or not, it was a fascinating tale.
I also learned the numerous advantages virtual world journalists have over real world journalists. By cutting and pasting and taking in-world screen shots, virtual journalists have access to techniques that make reporting that much easier.
