After watching the “Covering a Virtual World” video, I am of the opinion that in-world Second Life news has the potential to develop into a vital cog of everyday virtual life. However the growth and evolution of in-world journalism may be hampered by the limitations and restraints of Second Life.
Whereas in the real world where one can just turn on the television, read a newspaper, or logon to their favorite news portal; in Second Life, there is a threshold of accessibility for most users. That is to say, the average Second Life user must have a considerable amount of prerequisites to actually have the means, will, and knowledge to access and care about in-world news.
As mentioned in the video, the user that will benefit most from in-world news is the user that has already cultivated a significant social network, friends and groups included. I feel this is the largest obstacle facing in-world journalists. To access relevant journalism, a user must know exactly where to look or know someone who does; one of the panelists stated that it is problematic finding stories; which consequently translates to a limited audience base.
However, as I previously mentioned, the prospect of journalism on Second Life holds much potential. With 9 million users and counting, and with more and more of these users developing a network able to sustain a viable news experience, it is possible that in-world journalism may someday rival its real world counterpart, although I am doubtful it will ever supersede it; because just as the virtual world of Second Life is ever-evolving, so is the real world at large.