A virtual depiction of Christopher Thomas, who was 15 years old when he was sentenced to 40 years in prison for his involvement in a non-lethal shooting.

A virtual depiction of Christopher Thomas, who was 15 years old when he was sentenced to 40 years in prison for his involvement in a non-lethal shooting. / JJIE Multimedia

Students at Kennesaw State University are taking journalism to another level. A group of them recently reported on the incarceration of a young man from Georgia named Christopher Thomas, who at the age of 15 was given a 40-year prison sentence for a non-lethal shooting. The reporters presented the story in a virtual world. In this installment of our “Lessons from Left Field” series, we talk about the project with Leonard Witt, the executive director of the Center for Sustainable Journalism at Kennesaw State University. We also hear from Ann Ondieki, one of his journalism students. 

Here is the virtual world telling of Christopher Thomas' experience in the criminal justice system:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75Aj5fz44A8

Tags: journalism  Lessons From Left Field  Atlanta  Georgia