Brett Atwood

Infobox journalist
name = Brett Atwood


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birth_place = USA
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occupation = Journalist, Academic
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credits = Internet content expert (Linden Lab, Amazon.com, RealNetworks)
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Brett Atwood is a print and online journalist, whose writings have appeared in "Billboard", "Rolling Stone", "Vibe", "Hollywood Reporter" and other publications. In addition to his writing career, Atwood has held managing editor positions at leading Internet sites Amazon.com and RealNetworks. In 2001, Atwood's career shifted to academia. He is currently the journalism sequence coordinator and an assistant professor at the Edward R. Murrow School of Communication at Washington State University. He holds a M.A. degree in communication from University of the Pacific in Stockton, California. Atwood continues to work in the online space through an affiliation with Linden Lab.

Journalism

During his five-year stint as new media editor at "Billboard", he was among the first reporters to document the development of Internet-based digital downloading and streaming media technologies. His expertise in this area has resulted in numerous analyst and commentator appearances at several national print and TV outlets, including Fox News, MSNBC, CNN, "CBS Evening News", "USA Today" and "Wall Street Journal".

Online

At Amazon.com, he managed and developed editorial content for several of the e-commerce site’s operations, including the Computer & Video Games, Electronics and Toys stores. At RealNetworks, he managed content development for various music properties at the streaming media company, including MusicNet, LiveConcerts.com and RealGuide Music. In addition, he co-founded Internet music service Rolling Stone Radio with "Rolling Stone" magazine. At Linden Lab, he currently develops editorial strategy and content for Secondlife.com, the Web site component of the Internet-based 3D digital world Second Life.

Academia

Atwood currently serves as journalism sequence coordinator and an assistant professor at the Edward R. Murrow College of Communication at Washington State University, where he teaches courses in reporting and media writing.

In 2006, he was the recipient of a U.S. Speaker and Specialist Grant from the U.S. Department of State. This grant enabled Atwood to travel to Minsk, Belarus to conduct workshops on Internet content development among independent journalists. Under the regime of Alexander Lukashenko, the government has all but suffocated traditional distribution outlets for independent journalists due to its intolerance of dissenting viewpoints.

In 2008, he received a grant from the McCormick Foundation to conduct workshops on the emerging field of "virtual journalism." The effort comes as a result of the growing popularity and influence of virtual worlds, where there are many real stories unfolding within the "metaverse" and its newly-created 3D spaces. For example, real-world news organizations, such as CNN, Reuters and Sky News, have already opened "in-world" virtual news bureaus that aim to document and report on the virtual economy and activities within Second Life.

External links

* [http://communication.wsu.edu/ The Edward R. Murrow College of Communication]
* [http://www.wsu.edu/ Washington State University]
* [http://www.billboard.com Billboard magazine]
* [http://www.amazon.com/games Amazon.com Computer & Video Games store]
* [http://www.real.com RealNetworks]
* [http://www.rollingstone.com Rolling Stone magazine]
* [http://www.lindenlab.com Linden Lab]
* [http://www.secondlife.com Second Life]