My Time At Second Life Newspaper (2015)

 

It was Fifteen years ago this Wednesday that the Newser came to be. But who was reporting the news of Second Life before that? In 2006, JamesT Juno would start the Second Life Newspaper, and others would join him in covering the news about this virtual world. This included Dana Vanmoer who would take over as editor, as well as Gemma Cleanslate and Bixyl Shuftan, who would go on to write for the Newser. So what went on during this earlier time of Second Life? Bixyl Shuftan would describe how things went from his point of view.

Read the article from 2015 in Extra. 

 

My Time At Second Life Newspaper (2015)

 

It was fourteen years ago this Wednesday that the Newser came to be. But who was reporting the news of Second Life before that? In 2006, JamesT Juno would start the Second Life Newspaper, and others would join him in covering the news about this virtual world. This included Dana Vanmoer who would take over as editor, as well as Gemma Cleanslate and Bixyl Shuftan, who would go on to write for the Newser. So what went on during this earlier time of Second Life? Bixyl Shuftan would describe how things went from his point of view.

Read the article from 2010 in Extra.

My Time At Second Life Newspaper (2015)

 

Yesterday was the thirteenth anniversary of the SL Newser. But before the Newser, there was the Second Life Newspaper. It was founded by JamesT Juno as a simple blog with short entries in 2006. But he would soon bring Dana Vanmoer and a number of other writers into it as a full-fledged newspaper, with yours truly joining up in November 2007. This was considered the golden years of the virtual world, when it was the darling of the tech media and talked about not just by computer nuts but was mentioned in mainstream news and prime time TV shows alike. So what was it like to cover the news about Second Life then?

Read Bixyl Shuftan's article from 2015 in Extra.

My Time At Second Life Newspaper (2015)

 

Yesterday was the twelfth anniversary of the SL Newser. But before there was the Second Life Newser, there was the Second Life Newspaper. It started out as a simple blog by JamesT Juno with short entries in 2006. But he would soon bring Dana Vanmoer and a number of other writers into it as a full-fledged newspaper, with me joining up in November 2007. This was considered the golden years of the virtual world, when it was the darling of the tech media and talked about not just by computer nuts but was mentioned in mainstream news and prime time TV shows alike. So what was it like to cover the news about Second Life then?

Read the article from 2015 in Extra.
 

Before The Newser ...

 

Before the SL Newser, there was the SL Newspaper.

As we look back to our beginning today, we also look back at where for some of the crew the story truly began. Bixyl Shuftan (myself) and Gemma Cleanslate got our start in JamesT Juno and Dana Vanmoer's Second Life Newspaper. From it's humble start as a blog in 2006, as the months went by it changed into more of a newsletter, and a year later was Second Life's top source of information with a team of reporters. But nothing lasts forever, particularly in virtual reality, and forces beyond the owners' control in real life would force it's closing in June 5, 2010.

For over three years, the Main Page remained up for those interested in reading it. Then in January 2014, it was taken down. While some of the articles can still be accessed through the Internat Archives, it can be difficult. A few stories from it were reposted, notably around May and June 2005 for our fifth anniversary. But the real effort was our SL Newspaper Archives section. It's slow work, so it's a long-term effort. 

We won't be able to post everything as sadly, the other sections are gone, and so are some of the main page articles. But we can do some of them. Recently a little of the humble first few days were reposted, as well as the "Australian Ban" scare, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and the goodbye posts of Gemma, myself, and Dana.

While we look to the future, we also remember the past, and take care of things in the present.
 
Bixyl Shuftan
 

Reflections: Ten Years Ago ...

Ask most people what happened to them ten years ago this month on the first or second weekend, they probably wouldn't remember. For yours truly however, it was a fateful day in his Second Life, one that would set the stage for the end of one chapter and the start of another. Ten years ago, despite all the Coronavirus stories, despite everything going on in Second Life, I still think back to what happened.

Read the commentary in Extra. 

My Time At Second Life Newspaper (2015)

The SL Newser is having it's anniversary this week. It should be pointed out that before there was the Second Life Newser, there was the Second Life Newspaper. Starting as a simple blog by JamesT Juno in 2006, he would soon bring Dana Vanmoer and a number of other writers into it as a full-fledged newspaper, with me joining up in November 2007. This was considered the golden years of the virtual world, when it was the darling of the tech media and talked about not just by computer nuts but was mentioned in mainstream news and prime time TV shows alike. So what was it like to cover the news about Second Life then?

Read the article from 2015 in Extra.

My Time At Second Life Newspaper (2015)

As the Newser celebrates it's eighth anniversary, it should be noted our roots go back to another publication. Before the SL Newser, there was the SL Newspaper. Founded by JamesT Juno, it blossomed into Second Life's leading newsletter under editor Dana Vanmoer. About a year into the paper's history, I joined up with them. For the next two and a half years, I would be one of it's reporters, and eventually assistant manager. In this article written five years following it's closing, I looked back on my time at the "Gray Lady" of Second Life newsletters.

Read the article in Extra.

More SL Newspaper Archived Articles Up

Over time, the Newser has restored articles from the old SL Newspaper of JamesT Juno and Dana Vanmoer, which vanished from the net a few years ago. The ones we've restored more recently are in the SL Newspaper Archived. Among them, the two articles I wrote about the Second Life Fifth Birthday (first) (second). So enjoy this little blast from the past.

Click here to go to the SL Newspaper Archived.

A Glance Back at an SL Newspaper Meeting

Gemma Cleanslate had taken these pictures in February 2009, over eight years ago when she and I were part of the Second Life Newspaper. In the above picture, we were at a meeting in our office at Ian Bernard. JamesT Juno and Dana Vanmoer are on the left. Nazz Lane is second from the right.

We would go through a few offices in the two and a half years I was present, this one probably the second largest we had. As the years go by, the memories of these happy times get a bit fuzzier, and pictures like these help us remember.

My Time At Second Life Newspaper (2015)

On this seventh anniversary of the Second Life Newser, we look back to the days of the newsletter that preceded it: the Second Life Newspaper. For three and a half years, this publication founded by JamesT Juno and managed by Dana Vanmoer, covered the news of Second Life until it's closing on June 5, 2010. In 2015, Bixyl Shuftan did a write-up about his time at the publication from Fall 2007 to it's closing day.

Read the 2015 article here in the archives.

My Time At Second Life Newspaper (2015)

When the Second Life Newser was celebrating it's fifth anniversary last year, part of it was looking back at where we had come from. The original staff, including myself, Bixyl Shuftan, had gotten our experience in virtual journalism through another newsletter: JamesT Juno and Dana Vanmoer's Second Life Newspaper.Writing for them was a journey that would last for two and a half years, taking me through much of a Second Life that was quite different in many ways then from how it is now. So I wrote an article about my time as one of their writers.

Read the 2015 article here in the archives.

My Time At Second Life Newspaper

As Second Life Newser and it's friends celebrate the newsletter turning five years old, the thoughts of it's editor have turned to the paper he and the rest of it's founding staff worked for before, Second Life Newspaper. For three and a half years, it went from a simple blog to Second Life's leading newspaper, covering the virtual world from when it was popular in the tech media to when many were passing it by as an oddity. Bixyl Shuftan, who signed aboard a year after it's founding and continued to the end, looks back at his time there.

Read the article in Extra.

Looking Back: The End of Second Life Newspaper

Before Second Life Newser, there was Second Life Newspaper. So what happened to the original? Well, it did have some problems near the end, but what pulled the plug were problems no one could solve. As it's Office Manager, here's Bixyl Shuftan's story on what happened to what then was the best newsletter in Second Life.

Read the article in People.

The Old Boss Pays a Visit

Longtime readers of SL Newser should recognize this man: JamesT Juno, the founder of Second Life Newspaper, and my onetime boss. Events in real life had put an end to his career here, and has been more or less on hiatus for over two years. I'd only seen him once before besides his appearance at SL Newspaper's goodbye party in June 2010.

James had dropped by to see how things were going on, with both Second Life and the newspaper that had taken up his old dream of covering the news on the Grid. He was happy to hear that not only was the paper continuing to deliver the news daily to an audience, but that multiple sponsors were willing to back it, and the paychecks of it's reporters.

He stuck around for a few minutes, then explained it was time for him to head on, and logged off. When he'll appear again, we don't know. But whatever he's doing, we wish him well.

Bixyl Shuftan

Looking Back: SLN Auxillary Office near the Lava Pit

While looking for pictures of the ISM, I came across this picture of an auxillary office of Second Life Newspaper. Longtime readers will recall before Second Life Newser, there was JamesT Juno's Second Life Newspaper, or SLN as it was called sometimes. One of James' favorite locations early in it's history was the Lava Pit Club, which happened to be next to the building James made SLN's first office. It would move soon afterward. Flash-forward a few years, and the Lava pit was getting a makeover. So this auxillary office was set up next door. We never held a meeting there, so it's main practical purpose was advertising. But James always had a soft spot for that club. Guess one never forgets his old hangouts.

An Ode to James and Dana

It's been about seven months since Second Life Newspaper closed and Second Life Newser began. We at the paper still remember our times at the paper we used to work with, and our mentors. Since their farewell in June, I've had a little contact with them. Dana expressed her sorrow at not being able to come back more than one short brief time, but has not yet recovered from events in real life.

Here's to you, James and Dana.

Note: we've made some changes to our Crew page explaining a little more about our orgins.

Final Message From SL Newspaper: "Goodbye and Thank You"

The following was reprinted here in SL Newser in 2014 after SLN had it's archives wiped.

I thought long and hard about whether to write any last thoughts here or to leave it as it was, BUT I have a feeling others will make things up or read more into our closure than there actually is......


My reasons for closing the newspaper are simple - Real Life is more important!
Yes there are others who would willingly take over and, in fact, Bixyl has done an amazing job over the last few months BUT sl-newspaper was one mans' dream and one I was happy to be a part of and with his departure and our real lives taking over then its time for SLN to close down.


Over the last 4 years we have had the honour of working with some amazing people and seen so many changes in SL my wish is that people do not give up on the good that can be achieved within these virtual worlds (just look at RFL and all the good it does).


One thing I would hope for the future of SL is that the Lindens go back and realise what they are destroying with their policies. The sheer creativity, communication and international impact somewhere like Secondlife can be is being eaten away by the Lindens stupidly ignoring the content creators with their ill thought out policies which help no-one except their own pockets. 


I would personally like to thank certain people who have helped and supported us through everything, people like Bixyl, Gemma and Shellie who have continued to work hard for SLN even without guidance, and the many reporters who have written for us in the past plus the many sponsors over the years.
Skybeam and its amazing community has been a home away from home and one place I can always visit and feel welcome.

Nevar and Ame the best friends a person could hope for.

10 Goosson of M&M is another I shall keep in touch with and hope all the best for her future with M&M sculpts and her new home.

To be honest there are just too many to name and those friends I have not named will know I will forever hold you in my heart.

Breezes and Glitter my SL family, I will always be there for you and I am so glad I brought you to SL and a new way of finding your dreams.

One man, James T Juno, brought SL-Newspaper to life and made it one of the widest known and read newspapers in virtual worlds but more than that he made dreams come true, mine in particular, and would like the thank him for that.


"Don't cry because you are leaving, smile because you were there."


Dana Vanmoer

Going Out With a Bang - Second Life Newspaper's Last Hurrah Party

Dana wanted Second Life Newspaper not to end with a simple and sad goodbye article, but with a party as a tribute to our time and work together, "let's end this with a bang." And so she did.

She wanted to keep things quiet, and after telling us her plans, we agreed to do so. I told some friends there would be a "major announcement about the future of the paper," but that was all. The day of the party, the signs in the first illustration with landmarks inside were passed out to everyone in the SL Newspaper groups. No real clue about who the "special guest" was, or what the announcement was.

The special guest was in fact JamesT Juno, ending his hiatus just for today. Just before the start of the party at 1 PM, several of us were already at the site of the party in one of the Skybeam sims, James, DJ Quark, Gemma, myself, Breezes, and Dana. A few glasses of virtual champagne were passed around and raised in a toast.


And at 1 PM, the party started out well, people I hadn't seen in a long time coming in, along with some sponsors such as 10 Goosson of M&M, Tygeria Mirabeau and Amythe Midnight of Mystery dropping in. Others who made the paper, such as Kat2Kit of Pookymedia and DJ Nydia Tungsten of the Relay for Life "Passionate Redheads" also came by. So did madddyyy Schnook, noted for his publishing of "How to Get a Second Life" in real life.


In the middle of the party, James and Dana got on stage, in front of an old picture of the crew done about a couple years ago. Dana called out, "Ladies and gentlemen, can I have your attention please?! ... Please move into chat range. Tonight is a very special night. And I would like to welcome our special guest, James, back to SL purely for tonight." James bowed, and was greeted with much clapping and applause.

However, the smiles of the audience soon faded as James spoke, "It is with pain in our heart that we salute you tonight. It is with pain in our heart we leave this place. It is with pain in our heart we allow the final curtain to fall. For us as avatar, and for our beloved newspaper, its time to end it."

"The sl-newspaper will end."

In the audience were a few tears and sad sighs, "So sad." "Oww James, that's bad."

"I want to thank the many many people who stood with us over the long time we had our newspaper. Everyone, thank you."

"But most of all I want to thank Dana Vanmoer for making it all possible in the end."

"But instead of doing a long speech, many know I am not a man of a lot of words anyway, the only thing i want to say is: "

"BYE BYE - ZWAAI ZWAAI."

"On behalf of Dana and me, we salute you all."

"BUT PLEASE, GIVE US A LAST HELL OF A PARTY TONITE !!!"

Dana finally spoke, ""Don't cry because you are leaving, smile because you were there."

"Now lets DANCE for the last time with SLN."

The audience applauded, madddyyy Schnook saying, "Thank you for the support and news. and everything you have done." Venus Jervil added, "Sorry to hear this, and thank you for everything you brought to SL life with this excellent newspaper."


And the dance continued. People chatted about old times, and talked about plans. Yours truly had to spend some time answering questions over IM chat. The large numbers of residents at the party caused many to crash, and there was the lag. But a good time was had by all. And at a couple points, Erix Oh, noted for his Fox Reports Security system, leaped up on my head with his feral fox like a monkey on a human as I was occupied in a few IMs answering qestions.

Just before 3 PM SL time, James and Dana bade their farewells, and logged out, leaving Second Life.

We hope it's not the end, but an indefinite hiatus.

Whatever you do, James and Dana, we the staff of Second Life Newspaper, now Second Life News, wish you well.



Bixyl Shuftan

Official Statement from Second Life Newspaper

sl-newspaper.com was one man's dream and one I was happy to be a part of and with his departure and our real lives taking over then its time for SLN to close down.

For over 4 years SL-Newspaper has given people the daily news from Secondlife and during that time have had many great times and seen many changes and facelifts. Now the time has come for its founder JamesT Juno and his SL partner Dana Vanmoer to leave this virtual world and concentrate on their future.....

SL-Newspaper will close forever although archives will always remain available.

sl-newspaper.com will remain the property of James and Dana and will never be sold to any other person or company.

"Don't cry because you are leaving, smile because you were there."

James T Juno and Dana Vanmoer