Finding Stories in the Pumpkin Patch

So what exactly does one write about for a vitual newspaper or magazine? In traditional journalism, there are various ways to find story ideas. Almost anything can be made into a news or feature article, but you have to keep your eyes open and your creativity sparked. The same holds true for virtual journalism. Traditional reporters and editors read newspapers and magazines besides their own for story sources. Add to that blogs, websites, and basically anything that is printed. That doesn't mean that they copy articles, but many articles can be told from various viewpoints and often follow-up pieces or similar-themed articles can grow off the same "idea" tree. And if you look in the pumpkin patch, you can also find a good story. Seasonal pieces are always popular, especially told with a twist or special angle. A real life article on the best Halloween-decorated house in the neighborhood could be easily transformed into a virtual piece on the spookiest Second Life sim. So look around, read, listen, and don't forget to check the pumpkin patch.