Google teaches journalists how to create good stories with virtual reality
Posted: Tue Jan 07, 2025 9:43 am
Virtual reality is one of the fastest-emerging fields of technology today as a new medium for storytelling . So, Google News Lad , which claims to “work with journalists and entrepreneurs to help build the future of media ,” partnered with Google’s creative brand, Zoo , to conduct a six-month study on the impact of virtual reality on a medium, and how it affects the way it tells stories.
As a result, the study found that virtual reality is characterised by three reasons. The first is that it is transmitted in the sense that the viewer is living the story , i.e. it is not consumed passively. Google calls this 'storyliving'.
The second reason is that it allows users to broaden their perspectives on a story, while on the other hand, it can leave viewers with strong emotional experiences, i.e. impact them.
" Some people love VR because they want to feel something (be scared, be happy, etc.). Others see it as an opportunity to be or feel something they are not, such as flying like a bird," explained Google News Lab's Erica Anderson.
To fully understand each of the reasons, Google has explained them belarus phone number one by one. Regarding the fact of emotional connection, the company said that journalists must structure and frame a story differently , that is, look for what is new and impact with it, and make users experience the story as if they were one more.
Regarding perspective, Google said that virtual reality has the unique ability to produce a sense of accomplishment, which can be a powerful tool to expand perspective and thus create a wealth of opportunities.
Finally, VR experiences leave viewers in a state of specific physical and emotional vulnerability , which varies from person to person but is always impactful. Google said it recommends that journalists and storytellers always try to make viewers feel vulnerable when constructing a story around an emotional topic.
“It is important to inform a viewer when they are entering a story and when they are exiting it , as the ending in a VR story is essential, as viewers often gather their understanding when the story ends.”
As a result, the study found that virtual reality is characterised by three reasons. The first is that it is transmitted in the sense that the viewer is living the story , i.e. it is not consumed passively. Google calls this 'storyliving'.
The second reason is that it allows users to broaden their perspectives on a story, while on the other hand, it can leave viewers with strong emotional experiences, i.e. impact them.
" Some people love VR because they want to feel something (be scared, be happy, etc.). Others see it as an opportunity to be or feel something they are not, such as flying like a bird," explained Google News Lab's Erica Anderson.
To fully understand each of the reasons, Google has explained them belarus phone number one by one. Regarding the fact of emotional connection, the company said that journalists must structure and frame a story differently , that is, look for what is new and impact with it, and make users experience the story as if they were one more.
Regarding perspective, Google said that virtual reality has the unique ability to produce a sense of accomplishment, which can be a powerful tool to expand perspective and thus create a wealth of opportunities.
Finally, VR experiences leave viewers in a state of specific physical and emotional vulnerability , which varies from person to person but is always impactful. Google said it recommends that journalists and storytellers always try to make viewers feel vulnerable when constructing a story around an emotional topic.
“It is important to inform a viewer when they are entering a story and when they are exiting it , as the ending in a VR story is essential, as viewers often gather their understanding when the story ends.”