Virtual reality — the future of journalism
The world of journalism is evolving everyday — and virtual reality may be a large part of its future. Within seconds of stepping into the “virtual reality,” I was sold. And with a TV reporter’s mindset, ideas about how to fully utilize this app began flowing through my mind.
Talk about putting your audience in the middle of the action — — this allows for that. Journalists can take all the facts and sound bites they gather, and put them with this kind of video technology and those journalists will take their journalism into another realm.
Just like anything else, there are pros and cons. There will be those who can’t take the motion or think parts will be too graphic, but in my opinion this virtual reality allows people to feel like they are there without actually being there. This takes audiences into an even more personal experience. And when you click to download the virtual reality that is a choice. Based on the description, there could definitely be graphic parts, so whether someone wants to watch or not is, right now — that is on them. I think with virtual reality, audiences will be able to make greater connections with the stories journalists are telling. Perhaps journalists will be able to have an even greater impact if virtual reality becomes part of network newsrooms.
Although “Walking New York,” is more like a documentary than a news story, I can still configure, in my head, how journalists can put similar video into news package style.
The problem with this can be the costs — for a local newsroom, it doesn’t seem likely, but this gives big networks a chance to really expand on stories. I’d love to see NBC’s correspondent Richard Engel and his team be in the forefront of a piece like this overseas.
With that said, and after reading several articles and learning about the making of these projects, I’m not blinded by the fact that there is a tremendous amount work that goes into them. But let’s be honest, technology continues to try and make our lives a little “simpler.” The more virtual realities created, the more people will master how to create them and how to create them most efficiently.
This is only the beginning of virtual reality. I think it will only become bigger as more people find out about it and become interested in it. Who wouldn’t want to download something on your cell phone that takes you into Syria or to the U.S. and Mexican border? I know I’ve jumped on this virtual reality bandwagon, and I am anxious to see where it goes.
