CHESTER, Pa., Aug. 31, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Four college students have landed their own interactive educational reality show called BlogAbroad.com.
As they study abroad in Egypt, New Zealand, New York and on a voyage around the world, they have reality show fans tracking their experiences. The difference between their show and others like The Real World is that BlogAbroad.com is posted over the Internet via an interactive weblog, or blog.
Jonathan Jackson, Vanessa Ruiz, Amy White and Keri James, a New Zealand native studying in New York, are following in the footsteps of last season's stars by blogging their stories to entertain people while informing them about the realities of studying abroad.
The blogs are posted on a Web site called www.BlogAbroad.com. Viewers are able to read these posts and see pictures and videos, as well as respond and ask questions or make comments. This allows the audience to become the supporting cast.
"The first season was a breakthrough for the reality show genre," says Mark Shay, president and CEO of StudyAbroad.com, the company behind BlogAbroad.com. "The second season will continue to innovate and give the audience an influence over the show like never before. Plus, while highly entertaining, BlogAbroad.com is a terrific educational tool. It is a way to show firsthand what it's like to study abroad."
The bloggers were chosen by three judges from over 100 students studying abroad who competed for the part. They are given tasks to complete and they post new episodes at least three times a week, which are available for viewing 24 hours a day at http://www.BlogAbroad.com.
"I am excited to share my experiences in Cairo," White said. "There has been steadily increasing contact with the Arab world by ordinary Americans who are trying to understand America's situation in the world context. I will be an intermediary between these Americans and the Arab world. I hope to ease confusion over what is presumed about Arab/Muslim culture and what is factual."
Jonathan Jackson added, "I sincerely hope that my adventures in New Zealand will serve to encourage others to take that first step outside of their cultural bounds and explore this planet, thereby learning more about themselves." He also hopes he and Keri James can learn from each other as he travels to New Zealand while she departs it.
The first season of BlogAbroad.com was a critical success, garnering recognition in newspapers and magazines such as "The Chronicle of Higher Education" and "University Business". "Blog" was the number one searched word of 2004, according to Merriam-Webster. It is a recent technology that allows users to stay connected via interactive journals, even when they are oceans away from each other.
StudyAbroad.com
StudyAbroad.com is a comprehensive directory of study abroad and intensive language programs organized by subject and destination. StudyAbroad.com is a service of Educational Directories Unlimited, Inc., a leading Internet company serving higher education.