In March, of this year, CNN launched its virtual reality (VR) news platform,CNNVR, confirming the arrival of the newest technological evolution of journalism. In less than 100 years, broadcast journalism has moved from radio all the way to virtual reality. Now, while admittedly, VR is still very much in its infancy, leaving much room for improvement, its potential is astonishing. Coupled with the advent of high-tech visual enhancements, like those offered by the 360-degree video camera, VR will change the way news is told and consumed entirely. While social media brought unprecedented immediacy, virtual reality will offer something else that journalism’s earliest pioneers could never have fathomed; unparalleled immersion.
VR will change the way news is told and received to such an extent that the viewer could essentially, for all intents and purposes, become the journalist.
Imagine being right there with the reporter, every step of the way, as the journalist makes their way through the war-torn streets of Homs, Syria. Imagine being able to choose which particular news stories you would like to view from a newscast from a list. Then, think of the possibility of choosing from any point of view from a 360-degree field of view as you watch a documentary on the famed Fingal’s cave. Sounds unbelievable, doesn’t it? But that’s not all. It goes well beyond those superficial improvements. VR will change the way news is told and received to such an extent that the viewer could essentially, for all intents and purposes, become the journalist. Its capabilities are threatening to erase the already thin line separating the viewers, the broadcasters, and the subjects. How? Because the interactive potential of VR is such that the viewer could be able to choose things like the topics to be covered during an interview, as well as the very questions being asked.
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The likelihood is that given how TV companies tend to operate locally, they will only seek to make online media its focus when VR becomes the next big thing. However, this time, it might be too little too late. While the likes of CNC3, CNMG and CCN TV6 have managed to stay afloat with its many digital shortcomings, I believe there will be no such luxury, without substantial investment, by the time the VR-era comes around. They are running out of time to put things in place. This, on the other hand, will spell good news for entrepreneurs seeking to enter the online media market, as well as a potential VR media market. If they make the necessary investments now, these entrepreneurs could have the market for the taking by the time virtual reality journalism takes the world over.
Virtual reality news will not only change the way news is told internationally, but very much so locally. The question is who will be the ones to usher in this new evolution in T&T? Will it be the already established mainstream broadcast media companies, who have already demonstrated a stubborn reluctance to adapt, or will it be new faces? Either way, the choice faced is simple, adapt or adios.
Source: Medium / Joshua Seemungal