CNN have a new island in Second Life (CNN iReport Island 63, 130, 24). Instead of meeting at the old location in 'Future', members of the SL Ireporters Group were called over to the new amphitheatre for the Tuesday 'get together'. We were met by real life CNN reporters Nicole Ireport, Henry Ireport and Lila Ireport (their avatar names). Henry took the meeting, and later suggested that we look the new island over.

At the moment they are experimenting with points of interest on the island, but it is a nice place to visit and roam around. You can go and watch science fiction movies there, although they later plan to have movies about Second Life playing as well. The amphitheatre is similar to the one at the old Future site, it's well designed and ideal for the meetings, so I think it is a good idea that they stayed with the original layout. You can wander around, taking the shaky bridge over the lake or take another equally shaky bridge to the top of a mountain, giving superb views all around. There are deer in the fields, which make a pretty picture, although Henry warned us not to feed them our popcorn as we passed through!!

At the CNN information site on the island you can pick up a reporter pack, which includes the microphone invented by fellow ireporter Jim Sella. There is a refreshment tent and various vehicles parked nearby. It's a nice start to what looks to be an interesting place to visit.

Also, for those budding journalists out there reading this, go and pick up your information pack and get writing, SL is full of wonderful people doing amazing things, which affect real life, so we need more people to write about it, not just talk about it at the meetings!

I am hoping that CNN put a direct link to our CNN stories at the site as well, as I feel we need a direct route for these articles as they get lost in the ether once they pass the first 'Latest' page of the CNN Ireports on the web. It might give people the inspiration they need to realise that ireporting stories in SL is not only a fun thing to do, but you are also recording the history of how the metaverse will change the face of the internet over the next couple of years forever. So be part of it and visit CNN iReport Island.