Understanding How News Content Utilizes Experiential Media (AR, VR, and 360° Video) in COVID-19 Storytelling

Abstract

A growing body of research indicates how experiential media (EM) technologies such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and 360° video are diffusing widely around the world, thereby transforming media practices and the user experience. The current study looks at immersive news content production (EM stories) that seek to inform the public on how the COVID-19 virus spreads, the precautions required to protect from getting infected by the virus, and a general understanding of COVID-19 as a pandemic. Based on a list of six criteria, a total of six EM stories (two AR stories by the New York Times (NYT), two 360° video stories by National Geographic (Nat Geo), and two VR stories by Meta’s Oculus App in collaboration with other media organizations) were identified for the study. This exploratory study uses qualitative research methodology and the Experiential Media theoretical framework to understand to 1) what extent such immersive news content production utilizes the six EM qualities in COVID-19 storytelling? 2) what themes do such EM stories and the accompanying static news story reported online cover? 3) what new knowledge, if any, do such EM stories provide compared to the accompanying static news story online? The findings from the study offer a theoretical understanding of the role EM technologies play in highlighting global health crisis such as COVID-19, particularly through immersive 3D visualizations, and provides practical implications for EM content producers. Keywords: experiential media, augmented reality, virtual reality, 360° video, COVID-19, news