Story #4: Press Conference... forgot to post it earlier

Linden Lab unveils Showcase

Leading user-generated online virtual world, Second Life, will receive a new feature known as Showcase, which will act as a 3-D guide to the Web site, creators Linden Lab announced Thursday.

In reaction to Second Life’s growing active user population of what Linden Lab estimates to be between 45,000 and 65,000 users at any time, the company unveiled Showcase to help Residents explore new user-created regions within the Second Life Grid platform. The new feature addresses the user-concern of what to do while in the virtual world, Brett Atwood, Web editor for Linden Lab’s Second Life, said.

“Its purpose basically is to connect the users to this cool content,” he said. “It’s a creative community, yet many of those communities remain unexplored.”

Second Life is an online 3-D virtual world created and owned by its users. According to Atwood, it is commonly used as a social networking outlet as well as an educational tool, including universities, museums, classrooms, and training sessions.

“I think Showcase represents a fundamental shift of how users interact with Second Life,” Atwood said.

The new feature allows Residents of Second Life to teleport to locations and cycle through Resident-created hot spots by providing Residents a way to search content using sub-categories like, music, hot spots, fashion, and arts and culture, according to Atwood. He described Showcase as the equivalent of a TV guide for the virtual world.

“Showcase is quality-controlled and editorially-guided for people to make and explore new content,” said Atwood. “No longer will these incredible builds be lost to the digital space. It’s a way to surface quality 3-D regions.”

Showcase features both Resident-created as well as mainstream commercial sites. Many large corporations are beginning to use Second Life as a promotional outlet.

Atwood said corporations like Nissan, Coca Cola, and IBM have taken traditional marketing to the 3-D space. He said in a 3-D environment consumers can interact with the product more than a traditional Web site. For example, on Nissan Island, Residents can view existing car models, view prototypes and use a test-drive track.

Showcase has been in development since late last year. While an in-world version of Showcase recently debuted, the new feature is still in testing, according to Atwood.
Previous to Showcase there was a similar feature known as Popular Places. Unlike Showcase, Popular Places was a non-editorial automated list of popular places in the virtual world. An algorithm kept track of the most popular places, but according to Atwood, Popular Places used an imperfect process.

He said Popular Places became manipulated by Residents who wanted to raise interest in their locations. Atwood referred to the practice as “camping.” Residents were leaving zombie-like avatars with no user controlling them at locations to increase the locations’ ratings. “Popular Places was clearly not achieving the goal,” he said.

Second Life is not positioned a game. According to Atwood it is positioned as a social platform. “It’s not about winning,” he said. “It’s about experiencing, engaging and learning.”

With 75 percent of its users living outside of the U.S., Second Life is not solely a U.S. phenomenon. Atwood said there are currently more than 13 million downloads of Second Life, and its grid is approaching the size of Denmark.

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Ethics Assignment Questions

1. I think Steven Smith differentiated between a legitimate news story and one that is not legitimate, because the content of the story would be ruin West’s career and have a huge negative impact on the rest of his life. Smith wanted to be sure that the story was accurate and fair or the paper would risk libel and tarnish its credibility.

2. They needed to go into Gay.com in order to make sure Cobra 82 was truly Mayor West. The paper believed if Mayor West really was looking for underage boys online, then the people of Spokane need to know. Because of ethics, Morlin said he himself could not go undercover on the Web site.

3. Morlin said the abuse of political resources, like the offering of an internship, was the real story. The sexual abuse scandal that occurred in Spokane in the past made the story more newsworthy and relevant to the Spokane community. Also, the paper was very interested in West’s political hypocrisy. Because the mayor was republican and anti-gay, the fact that he was gay was even more newsworthy.

4. The gay community in Spokane was hurt from the scandal. It angered the community that he protected his “closeted-ness” by his anti-gay political views. Gays in Spokane felt West gave them a bad reputation. The general Spokane community benefited, because it was more informed about the hypocrisy of the city’s elected official. Although West did not resign, the national news attention the scandal received hurt West’s reputation and personal life. He was politically exiled and the voters of Spokane eventually recalled West. He described the hypocritical double-life he had been living as a “hell.”

I think the outcome was worth it. While some were hurt in the scandal, it was the paper’s responsibility to report such a newsworthy story. The people of Spokane voted West as mayor under the belief that he was a conservative politician with a history of anti-gay political views. Child abuse is one of the most hated crimes that exists, and the mayor was involved with it. If the mayor participated in these activities, he should have been prepared to face the consequences.

5. I believe that as long as the paper does not accuse Mayor Lynch of anything, there are not ethical problems in reporting the story. The story should simply report the facts and leave the reader to make his or her own decision as to Lynch’s involvement in illegal activities. The key to remaining ethical in this story is maintaining objectivity.

In-class Research Exercise

1. According to the FBI's "Uniform Crime Report" Web site, in 2006 Washington State University's Pullman campus' top three type of crimes were property crimes with 200, larceny-theft crimes with 167, and burglary with 30. Other reported crimes were violent crimes (6), forcible rape (4), motor vehicle theft (3), arson (3), and aggravated assault (2).

Compared to other colleges in Washington, WSU's spread of crimes was very similar, with property crimes being the leading crime at all included Washington colleges. The University of Washington's top three types of crimes were the same as WSU's, but in much greater numbers.

2. -Washington house candidate Troy Kelley received the most political donations in 2006 with $305,599. Senate candidate Christopher J. Mar recieved $565,880 if political donations in 2006.

-Mar's largest donor other than himself was the Washington State Democratic Party, which gave him $46,615. Kelley's largest donor was also the Washington State Democratic Party, which gave him $42,974.

-In 2006, the Republican party recieved more donated money for anti-gun control regulations recieving $433,598. In Washington state the Democratic party recieved the most donated money for women's issues over the past few years.

3. First references to technologies:

Digital Video Recorder

Social Networking

Automobile

Feeding the Beast Questions

1. Who or what is the “beast”?

The beast is the news media’s audience.

2. Why does it need to be fed?

It needs to be fed because people rely on the news media as their source for the most important and up-to-date news. Feeding the beast involves reaching the public in order to make them informed citizens.

3. What compromises (if any) might occur in trying to feed the 24-hour news cycle in print, TV and the Internet?

The 24-hour news cycle can force media outlets to choose sacrifice accuracy and quality for speed and quantity. The Internet has made people accustomed to hearing/reading stories right when they happen, so TV and print media have to try and keep up as well. When trying to get the news out to the pubic as quickly as possible, some media outlets do not have time to find multiple reliable sources and amply fact check, so the media will have to rely on the trust they have established with their audience and run the story with a higher possibility of error.

Giant pumpkins, a growing subculture

When Howard Dill first developed his new variety of pumpkin seed, the Atlantic Giant, in 1979, he never could have anticipated the now flourishing subculture that grew from it. Dill’s Atlantic Giant pumpkins have fostered the formation of an active giant pumpkin growing community around the world.

After the recent death of giant pumpkin guru Howard Dill on May 20, the giant pumpkin growing community he unknowingly created deserves to be looked at more closely.

Growing Atlantic Giants, or A.G.s, is not merely a hobby; it is an obsession.

“I’m kind of obsessed. I sleep with my thermometer by the bed now,” giant pumpkin grower Erin Huff said. “As the pumpkin grows so does the hobby. It’s actually a sport, not a hobby,” she continued laughingly.

Huff admitted although she is an avid pumpkin grower, many of the growers are even more devoted than her.

“A lot of them are more into it than me,” she said. “They are appalled that I am going to leave the pumpkins for ten days and go to Ireland in August.”

Don Young, Iowa state record holder for the heaviest pumpkin, is one of these devoted growers. Last year Young grew the second largest pumpkin in history, a 1,662-pounder, earning him the Iowa state record.

Young agreed that growing A.G.s becomes addictive. He only uses his computer for researching pumpkins, he said. His biggest problem has been blowing his pumpkins up. According to Young, when the pumpkins grow too fast they risk exploding because of temperature change.

“It’s heart breaking, but it’s fun too,” said Young. “You can lose a whole summer’s worth of work in one night. It’s like a race car thing – if you don’t blow one up, then you’re not trying hard enough.”

Growing giant pumpkins has changed Young’s life, he said. Young has traveled across the country speaking at giant pumpkin growing seminars. He is now sponsored and receives free products for growing. Various gardening magazines have featured Young, and he was on Good Morning America in Times Square last year when the show featured the top three pumpkins in the world.

Giant pumpkin growers are not the average hobby gardener, Huff and Young agreed. In order to grow a large A.G.s, many factors must be considered.

“The guys that really do well know their soil chemistry, different organic amendments, different ways to train and prune the vines, and seed genetics,” Huff said.

Members of the giant pumpkin growing community look out for one another. After the death of a well-known pumpkin grower, members donated pumpkin seeds and held an auction that raised several thousand dollars for the grower’s family, according to Huff.

“People want to help other people grow big pumpkins. It’s really neat. People don’t try to keep secrets,” she said.

In a world where competition can bring out the worst in people, members of the giant pumpkin growing community continue to maintain a family-like spirit. While the only thing growing faster than the pumpkins is the number of growers, this teamwork approach can only help the giant pumpkin growing community continue to thrive.

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Story #2: Summer Improv

New summer improv practices-

Develop a character. Make a conflict. Establish an environment. Oh, and most importantly, be funny! In order to create a successful scene in improv comedy participants must achieve all of these things in a matter of seconds.

Washington State University’s improv comedy group, Nuthouse, teaches its members improv comedy skills, and for the first time in about three years is having a summer improv group, said Nuthouse director Michael E. Coletta. According to Coletta, previously the summer turnout numbers were too low to maintain the summer improv group. Recently more people have been staying for the summer so Nuthouse decided to bring back summer improv.


Practices are 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays, Coletta said. During the Sunday meetings the group practices creating a scene. Coletta said anyone is welcome to attend the practices.

“I think anyone is capable of doing improv,” said Coletta. “It’s all about confidence – not being afraid to throw ideas out there.”

Three-year Nuthouse veteran Evan S. Shelton said although the shows are his favorite aspect of Nuthouse, he also enjoys practices. The summer improv practices are a source of entertainment for Shelton.

“The last couple practices have been a blast. Every practice is like seeing a free show,” Shelton said.

Members of Nuthouse have many different reasons for joining the group. Coletta said Nuthouse is a creative outlet for him, and improv comedy is something he can pursue after college.

“I love making people laugh,” Shelton said. “I get to say whatever I want, and people are going to hear it.”

For students unable to attend the summer improv practices, Nuthouse will be conducting an improv comedy workshop August 21 as a welcome to new students, Coletta said. According to Coletta, participants will be taught the basics of improv comedy and learn improv games played at Nuthouse shows. Fall semester Nuthouse practices will be at 6 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays and 3 p.m. on Sundays.

Nuthouse’s first performance of the upcoming school year will be at WSU’s initial Up All Night event, which will take place at the new Compton Union Building.

Coletta said Nuthouse will be branching out of Pullman more in the upcoming school year. Nuthouse will be going places like Central Washington University, Gonzaga University, University of Idaho, Western Washington University, and an improv festival in Seattle, to perform shows and conduct workshops, according to Coletta.

Coletta acknowledged Nuthouse as one of the stronger college improv groups in the state. “We’re one of the only college improv groups with a steady fan base and steady shows – and we’re sexy.”

Students wanting to get involved with Nuthouse or any of WSU’s theatre programs should attend STAGE meetings, Coletta said. He said, “The meetings are a way to bring people together who like theatre.” STAGE meetings take place during the regular school year at 5 p.m. on Thursdays.

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"Ace in the Hole" Questions

1. As a journalist Tatum did not have a responsibility to rescue to man. His job as a journalist was to objectively report the story. Helping rescue the trapped man influenced how Tatum reported the news story. The personal relationships he made with many of those involved in the incident was skewed Tatum’s story and led to its complete loss of objectivity. The ethical decisions Tatum faced involved keeping the man in the mine longer than he needed to be, so that Tatum and others could personally benefit from the story. Tatum should never have let himself get so personally involved in the story. He should have simply done his job as a journalist and reported the news, rather than try and make the news himself.


2. I think the film accurately depicts the idea of media hype. Although there is not a carnival and vendors at every media event, the media does sensationalize the news. The film is a good example of the media agenda setting theory. The media is not always concerned with what its audience needs to know, but many times is more concerned about what its audience wants to hear about. Stories with low national newsworthiness but high human interest frequently make headline news in the media today. While I can not think of any recent specific stories, the media often find unique individuals going through a struggle, and build a human interest piece that finds its way into the media’s top stories.