Understanding the World of Immersive Journalism

Posted by Johny on February 20th, 2018

The journalism that we know consists of videos and texts. Through Internet, television, and newspapers, we get to know about events happening across the world. But this is not how it is going to be forever. The journalism of tomorrow will adopt virtual reality or VR to take storytelling to a whole new level. As viewers, we are able to relate with people and their experiences. The storytelling and the content is such that it evokes empathy. But virtual reality makes everything hard-hitting and the reporting is direct. It actually takes you there and you as viewers will be able to bond far more easily with people who are right beside you. The feeling is real and the emotions that you experience can stay with you for a very long time.

Immersive journalism ensures that you don’t just see a story, but practically live it. The idea is to stir feelings of understanding and empathy. When you see a story, it should inspire you to take action. It could be anything; signing a petition for a good cause or donating money to charity or doing something constructive for the society. There are challenges however when it comes to re-creating events. Due care has to be taken to ensure that ethics are not compromised in any way. Besides, viewers may not be ready to experience gruesome or gory incidents. The question that needs to be asked is- are we ready to feel and relive events rather than seeing them on the TV screen?

Virtual reality has been welcomed in a big way as far as documentaries are concerned. A VR documentary transports you to a different world and lets you experience things you always wanted to. Imagine going on an African safari wearing your VR headset. It can be an unforgettable experience but watching disturbing content is something else. Pre-roll disclosures may be necessary during telecast.

People are gradually embracing virtual reality and soon it’s going to be as common as videos and photos. The gap between audience and information will then cease to exist.