Should the CNN and Reuters’ Reporter meet for lunch?

CNN has decided to expand their user generated content to include Second Life news.

Susan Grant, executive vice president of CNN News Services, explained the reason for this move; "The thing we most hope to gain by having a CNN presence in Second Life is to learn about virtual worlds and understand what news is most interesting and valuable to their residents."

Initially I laughed at this. Then someone mentioned that Reuters did this a while back and then I was just concerened about the state of the news media.

I’m not a Second Life fan but I am intrigued by the extent that “real” institutions and business are linking Second Life to the real world. Seriously, you can exchange Linden Dollars for “real” money. Isn’t this pushing it?

Second Life is validated by its residence. People that have lived, interact, and enjoy this world. Eventually, if it hasn’t happened already, its residents would have played the role of news reporters, if they thought the service had value in Second Life. CNN’s move to Second Life makes me wonder whether they are doing it because they think it is a service that needs to be provided or they are just doing it to be trendy?