Between Journalist Authorship and User Agency: Exploring the Concept of Objectivity in VR Journalism

Abstract

ABSTRACT Virtual Reality (VR) journalism has brought many changes to journalistic practice, calling facticity, accuracy, objectivity and autonomy into question. This study examines factors influencing objectivity and its significance in VR journalism from the perspective of VR content creators. The researcher conducted 27 semi-structured interviews with fact-based VR content creators. The findings showed the diverse understandings of objectivity among VR content creators and the growing acceptance of VR as a subjective experience. The 360° spherical view reduces the ability to frame the content. The different story-paths in interactive VR storytelling may add perspectives to the story. However, the VR user retains the ability to actively explore the virtual environment, deciding what to experience and what to dismiss. VR emphasises user-induced subjectivity in addition to the already existing journalist-induced subjectivity, in which the journalist chooses camera placement and provides a guided experience. Subjectivity is inescapable in VR and its impact is magnified, suggesting extra caution from VR content creators to protect users and affirming the need for the notion of pragmatic objectivity.