Please join the USC Institute for Network Culture for a discussion in a series on philanthropy and virtual worlds supported by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.  
The event, "MacArthur and Virtual Worlds: Credibility and Reputation in the New News," will be held on the USC Annenberg Island [http://tinysl.com/Sf08849] at 10:00a.m. PST on Friday, February 29, 2008.  
 
The discussion will explore questions about the credibility and accuracy of news and information in virtual worlds.  Is the challenge of credibility assessment different in virtual worlds than in the real-world?  How do people signal and assign trustworthiness in the virtual world? Are there credibility cues unique to the virtual space, or do real-world biases, brands and knowledge permeate what people believe and trust in virtual worlds?  How is identity and reputation developed and protected, or alternatively, defamed or hijacked, in virtual worlds?  
 
These questions will be explored by Kathy Im, Program Officer at the MacArthur Foundation, Tony Curzon Price, Editor of OpenDemocracy.net, Jonathan Zittrain, Professor and Internet Scholar at Oxford University.
 
The event is an open dialogue where participants are encouraged to submit questions for the speakers. The event will use Second Life Voice.
 
RSVPs are recommended but not mandatory. To reserve a spot, please send an email with subject line, "February 29" to: networkculture@gmail.com.