The Creative Coalition’s Presidential Debate Dialogues Get a Second Life from InWorld Studios

Manchester, NH (May 30, 2007) –The Creative Coalition (TCC) will take advantage of a burgeoning trend in the nonprofit sector: the use of new media to turn real-world events into publicly accessible virtual realities.

On June 4th, between the Republican and Democratic candidate debates in Manchester New Hampshire, The Creative Coalition – the nonprofit, entertainment industry-led public advocacy group – will host a brunch and roundtable discussion featuring a panel of high-profile pundits, and Hollywood activists, Talking the Talk: The Creative Coalition’s 21st Century Debate Dialogues. While many will find it difficult to make it to the space-limited event, InWorld will broadcast the event into Second Life through live streaming video.

Second Life is an online virtual world where people can, for free, create avatars, or digital figures that represent them in the virtual reality and that can then participate in real-world events replicated simultaneously online. InWorld, a private digital developing company, has created a virtual auditorium for the TCC dialogue which will allow anybody with Internet access to “attend” the event in the virtual world. Participants will not only be able to watch live video footage of the event streaming from a camera onsite, but will also be able to speak and interact with other avatars at the virtual event.

The Second Life digital auditorium will also allow participants to submit questions for the panelists via Instant Message which will be relayed to a real-life liaison at the event who will attempt to pose them to the group during Q&A.

“The synergy between this technology and our dialogue is remarkable,” said Robin Bronk, Executive Director of The Creative Coalition. “Our discussion is about the democratic process, and it’s not right to limit participation to only to those in New Hampshire. The Second Life broadcast allows this debate to reach a greater range of the voting population, and that’s what matters when it comes to an election.”

Jordan Bigel of InWorld Studios notes that there are other advantages in charities like The Creative Coalition incorporating Second Life into their events. “It’s a progressive crowd,” he says, “And it’s smart to go where the people are. There are a lot of people in Second Life who use it for hours each day.”

Not only that, but Second Life has its own economy – users can donate money to The Creative Coalition via kiosks that will be set up on in the digital auditorium. Bigel notes that $40-50 million are exchanged each month in the buying and selling of virtual digital land and objects. The earning potential for real-world organizations like The Creative Coalition is, therefore, substantial, and represents an opportunity to both raise money for causes like arts education in the public schools and to include the public in a meaningful discussion on the democratic process.

About The Creative Coalition (www.thecreativecoalition.org)
The Creative Coalition is the leading 501(c)(3) nonprofit, nonpartisan social and public advocacy organization of the arts and entertainment community. Founded in 1989 by prominent members of the creative community, The Creative Coalition is dedicated to educating its members on issues of public importance, primarily the First Amendment, public education and arts advocacy. Headquartered in New York City, The Creative Coalition also has offices in Washington, D.C., Los Angeles and San Francisco. The Creative Coalition does not endorse or raise funds for political parties or candidates. For more information, please visit www.thecreativecoalition.org

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