Camas Prairie Wine

Online vs. Traditional Journalism

The topic of whether or not online journalism is ruining traditional journalism raises a lot of emotions. My Journalism 425 teacher just got done telling my class that 15 percent of his newspaper's workforce was trimmed. People are angry that traditonal news is taking a backseat to instant, online stories, and perhaps rightfully so. They seem to think that online news lacks validity. However, I think traditional news reporters overestimate their own objectivity and dedication to 'straight' news reporting.

I find Dan Rather's assertion that the conservative blogger's attack of his Bush/National Guard story was purely politically biased to be incredibly hypocritical and borderline hilarious. In my opinion, Rather himself has been a politically driven journalist for years, and what people don't realize is that traditional news doesn't have as much integrity as they claim. Networks and newspapers are agenda driven. I'm not calling Rather as irresponsible as some blogger who sits in his or her basement and fabricates assertions about whatever is bothering them; however, Rather, O'Reilly, Brokaw, Drudge, and Huffington all practice a similar ways of reporting news, and other citizen journalists are no different. They are all biased and politically driven. I am too jaded to believe that traditional journalism holds some kind of sanctity that online citizen journalists don't understand. Traditional outlets have held the majority stake in news reporting for so long that they are afraid of what's happening to their industry and now they are scrambling.

It was accepted as fact for years (and still is in a lot of ways) that the talking heads of broadcast news were trustworthy honest newsmen. They are not-- at least not any more so than anyone else. The Rathers of this world don't have a corner on the market of honest reporting. They just want you to think they do.

Coca-Cola Launches Competition to Design Online "Virtual Thirst" Coke Machine

Coca-Cola Launches Competition to Design Online "Virtual Thirst" Coke Machine

Open Competition Invites "In-World," Second Life Residents and the Public to Imagine a Virtual Vending Machine with Limitless Possibilities

ATLANTA, April 16, 2007 –

 

Coca-Cola is launching an open contest for Second Life residents and the general population to design a virtual experience machine through its “Virtual Thirst” competition.

This contest is not a search for the virtual version of a real-life vending machine that distributes bottles and cans, but the mission to create a portable device for Second Life’s “in-world” digital society that unleashes a refreshing and attention-grabbing experience, on demand.

Consumers can enter the Virtual Thirst vending machine competition, even if they are not currently a resident of the virtual world Second Life. Design contest rules are posted on the web microsite www.virtualthirst.com.

To give consumers a feel for the contest’s broad design latitude, Coca-Cola also has posted videos of three working prototype Virtual Thirst vending machines – designed by actual in-world builders from Second Life – on the microsite. In addition, Company officials are demonstrating the concept during Virtual Thirst launch events conducted in-world today for residents and reporters visiting Second Life (secondlife.com).

Working with new-marketing firm crayon, Coca-Cola assembled a virtual advisory board – anchored by Second Life residents and designers – to collect critical feedback on the competition concept and establish the design guidelines.

Design entries will be accepted through a variety of formats and submission methods, including submissions within Second Life, YouTube and MySpace. Submission guidelines for each of these web platforms and contest rules are posted on MySpace at www.myspace.com/virtualthirst, as well as on "crayonville Island" in Second Life.

The entry deadline is May 25, 2007.

The advisory council will select the grand prize winner who will travel, courtesy of Coca-Cola, to San Francisco to collaborate with Millions of Us (www.millionsofus.com), the expert 3-D builders, who will turn the winner’s concept into Second Life reality.

The virtual machine subsequently will be introduced during an in-world unveiling party and, from there, made available to any Second Life resident who would like one.

The Virtual Thirst contest is The Coca-Cola Company’s first experiment within the fast-growing community of Second Life.

 

MULTIMEDIA ELEMENTS

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  Recorded in Second Life, May 25 2007 at the Coca-Cola Pavilion for the Virtual Thirst party marking the final day to submit ideas for the Coke Experience Machine in Second Life.
  
  
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  .....VIRTUAL THIRST.....
  ..(Coke+Alt+Refresh)..
  
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  Another cool concept for the Virtual Thirst Design Contest.
  
  
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  Coke and the Virtual World
  
  
  
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  Coca-Cola 2
  
  
  
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  Coca-Cola 3
  
  
  

QUOTES

Attributed to Michael Donnelly, Director, Global Interactive Marketing, The Coca-Cola Company:

• Put simply, we’ve invited the world to use the Second Life platform to design and prototype the ultimate Coke machine – something that delivers an innovative, engaging experience in Second Life, as defined by its community of residents.


• For example, it could play music from a jukebox, or display fun animation and video, or transform the user’s experience and capabilities in some positive way. There are few restrictions, except that the more inspired and original the idea, the better.


• This competition is a chance for anyone with a vivid imagination to design an experience that embodies the in-world Coke Side of Life in a way that enhances their lives and the lives of others within Second Life.


• The prototypes are merely thought-starters that set the optimistic tone of the Coke Side of Life and the virtually limitless possibilities of such a machine.


• We have been careful to seek the opinion of the Second Life community before bringing it a new experience. Our approach has been to create a program that enhances this exciting virtual environment. We plan to continue conversing with residents throughout this process.


• Our goal is to enable individual creativity in pursuit of a ‘vending’ machine that can exist only in your wildest imagination. Virtual worlds make it possible for such innovations to occur, and we selected Second Life as the most conducive to this experiment.

Attributed to Joseph Jaffe, President and Chief Interrupter, crayon:

• By collaborating with the community, Coca-Cola has a unique opportunity to join the conversation, while at the same time learn from the experience.

About The Coca-Cola Company

The Coca-Cola Company is the world's largest beverage company. Along with Coca-Cola, recognized as the world's most valuable brand, the Company markets four of the world's top five nonalcoholic sparkling brands, including Diet Coke, Fanta and Sprite, and a wide range of other beverages, including diet and light beverages, waters, juices and juice drinks, teas, coffees, energy and sports drinks. Through the world's largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy the Company's beverages at a rate exceeding 1.4 billion servings each day. For more information about The Coca-Cola Company, please visit our website at www.thecoca-colacompany.com.

RELATED LINKS

Putting the I in Advertising: Consumers A Part Of The Ad
User Advertising

CONTACT INFORMATION

• Jordan Bowers (Agency)
  Coca-Cola
  PR Representative
  1365 NE Brandi Way I-303
  Pullman, WA 99163
  406.670.4138 (office)
  jumpmanmt@yahoo.com(im)
  Email: jbowers@wsu.edu
  
  Blog: http://jumpmanmt.blogspot.com
  
  

Technorati Tags: Coke | Coca-Cola | Second Life | crayon | Virtual Thirst

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