Major media brands embrace virtual reality as a new journalism platform
Historically, legacy media organizations have been slow on adopting new digital technologies like social media, blog or mobile. But this time we’re witnessing something different.
With each new hardware launched, more media companies are drawn towards exploring an emerging technology that hasn’t gone mainstream yet; virtual reality.
And the stakes are high…
Whether its 360 degree videos or computer generated interactive VR experiences, major media brands are experimenting new ways to better understand the potential of virtual reality.
New York Times distributed massive amounts of Google Cardboard headsets to its subscribers. Huffington Post acquired LA-based virtual reality studio RYOT. The Associated Press built a team of VR producers inside the newsroom.
As Facebook’s Oculus Rift, HTC’s Vive, Sony’s Playstation VR, Google’s Daydream View and many more headsets are launched in 2016, major media brands start to embrace virtual reality as a new journalism platform.
New York Times
New York Times is one of the first major media brands to evangelize VR and 360 videos as a new storytelling platform. Back in 2015, the company sent out a million Google Cardboards to go with its upcoming VR films distributed through iOS / Android apps. Projects like The Displaced, The Fight For Falluja or Walking New York are some of the well known VR Journalism works so far. In 2016 the media giant acquired Fake Love, an agency specialized in virtual and augmented reality.
The Associated Press
The Associated Press offers a dedicated virtual reality and 360 video channel in collaboration with the giant chip maker company AMD. In just a year, the global news agency produced over 20 VR and 360 video projects on different topics. Some of the best examples of AP’s work include North Korea, Rush Delivery, Alzheimer’s Disease, and The Suite Life.
Talking about the things they learned with these experiments, Paul Cheung, AP’s director of interactive and digital news says “There isn’t a dedicated VR group at AP, instead we are a team of five working within the interactive department, which is responsible for all multimedia storytelling”
Wall Street Journal
Back in 2015, WSJ launched its flagship iOS and Android apps with built-in 360 degree video and virtual reality viewing capabilities. Gear VR users can also reach WSJ’s content through the Vrideo app.
3D NASDAQ Interactive and the story of American Ballet Theatre soloist Sarah Lane are some of the first and well known mobile VR projects of WSJ. Readers can also take a 360-degree look around the Wall Street Journal’s newsroom.
Guardian
6x9 is the Guardian’s first virtual reality experience, which places viewers inside a US solitary confinement prison cell and tells the story of the psychological damage that can ensue from isolation. After receiving very positive comments from the audience, Guardian decided to build an in-house virtual reality team, becoming one of the first UK news media publishers to invest dedicated resources in the emerging technology. According to the reports Guardian team will be led by Francesca Panetta as executive editor, virtual reality, and Adam Foley as commercial strategy director, who will focus on collaborations with advertisers.
Time
Time Inc. is bringing the legendary media brand LIFE back to life with virtual reality. The media company announced the launch of LIFE VR, a dedicated virtual reality platform featuring next level storytelling from Time Inc.’s global brands. LIFE VR is available on iOS, Android, Gear VR, Oculus and HTC Vive. At launch LIFE VR features three different immersive experiences: Defying the Nazis, Fast Ride, LUMEN.
The Economist
“RecoVR Mosul: A collective reconstruction” is The Economist’s first virtual-reality experience. It is a digital recreation of the Mosul Museum, and some of the artefacts inside it, which were destroyed by Islamic State militants in 2015.
“RecoVR Mosul” went on to win the jury prize for innovation at the 2016 British Interactive Media Awards and a silver medal in the VR category of the 2016 Lovie Awards. The VR experience is updated with the addition of two more virtual-reality pieces: an offbeat tour of the Japanese city of Osaka, and an animated explainer that examines the problem of overfishing on the high seas.
CNN
In 2015, CNN produced a virtual reality version of the Democratic debate telecast, marking the first time that a news event was live-streamed in VR through the Samsung GearVR headset. Earthquake in Italy, Donald Trump Rally and Syrian refugee camp are some of the other well known VR productions of CNN. The media giant also owns an in-house agency called Courageous to create sponsored content on different digital platforms. Norfolk Southern is one of the well known examples of Courageous’ 360-degree video work.
Euronews
In collaboration with Samsung and Google Digital News Initiative (DNI) Innovation Fund, Euronews launched a project in 2016 to create virtual reality (VR) news content and provide viewers an immersive experience. Equipped with a Samsung Gear 360 camera, Euronews journalists produce 360-degree news content that can be later accessed through different digital channels like Vrideo, YouTube or Facebook.
Huffington Post
Earlier in 2016, Huffington Post (owned by AOL) acquired LA-based virtual reality studio RYOT. Founded in 2012, RYOT has been shooting VR and 360-degree films and documentaries with the aim of giving viewers more immersive experiences. With the new acquisition RYOT will be placed as a new unit under AOL’s Huffington Post and will contribute 360-degree VR capabilities to all of the publication’s global news desks. In addition, the studio will be creating specialized content for partnered brands through AOL’s Partner Studio.
National Geographic
National Geographic has always been a pioneer in visual storytelling throughout its century long history. This tradition keeps on with immersive technologies. The Devil’s Pool, Unexpected Snow and Volcanic Eruption in Kamchatka are some of the most spectacular and breathtaking 360 degree video experiences NG has brought so far.
Back in May 2016, the magazine launched “Nat Geo VR”, a virtual reality channel that take viewers to the front lines of the action. And in August 2016, NG introduced its first virtual reality experience featuring President Obama. The experience allows viewers to embark on a VR journey with President Obama in Yosemite National Park.
Hulu
Hulu VR app lets Gear VR and Oculus users with a Hulu subscription to watch original series, and movies in virtual reality environments like a private big-screen theater, a modern living room, or a relaxing beach.
The online streaming service has also partnered with Huffington Post to launch the first virtual reality comedy series, “Virtually Mike & Nora,” and a virtual reality world news show, “The Big Picture: News in Virtual Reality.”
Frontline
Filmed on 360-degree cameras in West Africa, Frontline’s VR documentary Ebola Outbreak: A Virtual Journey takes viewers into the heart of the worst Ebola outbreak on record. The experience is available on Google Cardboard and Facebook. Another 360 degree documentary is “Return to Chernobyl”. Produced by Frontline and New York University students, the documentary is distributed on Facebook and takes viewers on a haunting 360° journey inside the nuclear ruins.
The Los Angeles Times
“Discovering Gale Crater,” is an immersive look at the Mars Gale crater, developed by LA Times as a first ever VR story. In a two minute tour, audiences can explore the surface of the crater of Mars, narrated by NASA’s Fred Calef, who works at the Mars Science Laboratory.
