Virtual Journalism: Inside the Virtual Newsroom of the American University in Cairo

(You can find more background about this project here: http://eurekadejavu.blogspot.com/2009/04/launch-of-journalistic-experiment.html ) This documentary explores the evolving face of journalism and how virtual worlds are a part of that transformation. In January 2009 a group of eight Egyptian political bloggers including the well-known Wael Abbas, met with James K. Glassman then the US Undersecretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, in the virtual newsroom of the American University in Cairo in Second Life. The documentary is part of a broader collaborative project between Dancing Ink Productions and the American University in Cairo exploring how virtual worlds can be used to augment journalistic goals globally, cut costs and enhance and deepen the interview process by providing access to often hard-to-reach subjects. The project is directed by veteran American journalist and long-time Middle East correspondent Lawrence Pintak, head of the Kamal Adham Center for Journalism Research and Training at the American University in Cairo, and produced in collaboration with Dancing Ink Productions and Ill Clan Animation Studios with funding from USAID. For more information, please visit the project webpage for a complete archive of the project: http://dancinginkproductions.com/?page_id=318

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Rita J. King
• Lawrence Pintak
• Larry Pintak
• Second Life
• Virtual World
• journalism
• Joshua S. Fouts
• Dancing Ink Productions
• AUC
• USAID
• Wael Abbas
• Mohammed Yahia

[fara7yo]

I like the video and admire the project. It really is THE future! However, I just have one technical question, because I am into documentary making and these stuff, so I wanted to know why did you choose to use the 3D graphics style and not just conventional video of real people? And what program did you use?

[DancingInkTV]

The entire video was filmed in the virtual world of Second Life. We used Second Life because it allowed people from around the world to gather and meet without having to spend money on travel. Thanks for your comment.

[DancingInkTV]

Thanks for your nice comments!

[Toniitalian]

Did u used Iclone 4?

[marcomallorca1]

un fuerte abrazo a Mr. SULTAN KAMAL ADHAM from GRAN CANARIA. Marco

[MillaKat]

Amazing stuff, glad I stumbled on this one.....it represents an incredible step in closing the global gap and uniting minds. Can't wait to see how these elements progress in the virtual world.

[Unr3achable1tch]

I know that guy! the auc new media coordinator :P. hey ol boss! lol

[BreatheMoYo]

The video is fantastic. I really enjoyed it and - being part of it - I fully see the potential in this project.

The only problem I have is that Wael Abbas' voice is very unclear, and Glassman's is borderline quality.

The others are great and I love the camera work on it!