Virtual Publishing Myths

People who work in certain fields or pursue a particular career are subject to stereotypes in real life. For instance, and I'll use my profession as an example, librarians are still pictured to some degree as eye-glass wearing, prudish, elderly women who spend their lives reading books. No matter how wrong this may be in light of younger and male library students, the stereotype persists. But in a virtual world, stereotypes are less typical because avatars can be so different in appearance and characteristics than their real life counterparts. But are they different in nature? I personally believe that most virtual world residents, while probably using younger and thinner avatars, are not much different personality-wise than the character they create to represent themselves. Further, these people often hang out with members of their real life professions or those who have similar interests. Like "birds of a feather," avatars of a group mingle together. That's why, when I first joined Second Life, I navigated toward librarians and found Info Island.


So what about publishers, journalists, writers, and reporters? If I made a survey of the staffs of virtual publications, I'm sure that a good percentage are either employed in similar fields or have pursued these occupations in some manner in real life. I worked on my student newspaper and graduate school newsletter. While I was never employed professionally as a journalist, I have published articles and a short story in real life.


Determining that virtual journalists tend to have experience from their real lives and that they like to be among other people with writing/communication interests, it is easy to see why the Virtual World Press Club that Holman Tibbett created, and other such press clubs in other virtual worlds, is a good idea.


Taking it one step farther, here are a few vitual publishing myths that should be debunked:


1. Publishing and writing in a virtual world can be fun but isn't very useful. After all, who cares what happens in a game?


This is totally untrue. Most virtual world residents take their Second Lives or Active Lives or whatever very seriously and do not think of the time they take part in these "worlds" as participating in a game. And while avatars like to have fun, they also want to keep informed of news, events, and other happenings.


2. Publishing a virtual newspaper or magazine is easy. All you do is sit down at your computer and write.


This couldn't be farther from the truth. Just like in real life, articles and stories for virtual publications involve interviews, editing, layout, photography, etc. if you want to put together a decent product. Although, just like in real life, there are publications that aren't worth reading, tabloids and such, most virtual world journalists work to create professional publications, and this takes time and effort.


3. Virtual publications come and go, so they never really develop a readership.


This is also untrue. While things do change quicker in virtual worlds than in real life, some publications expand and grow developing readers and adding staff as time goes on. This is a tribute to the dedication of the founders and the hard work of the staff.

So just as in real life, certain stereotypes and myths abound in virtual worlds and, also like real life, it's often up to the virtual press to enlighten the public and inform them of truths. We do not need to roleplay professionalism if we are professionals, and that goes for all worlds.