A first-person promise? A content-analysis of immersive journalistic productions

Author(s)
Kiki de Bruin, Yael de Haan, Sanne Kruikemeier, Sophie Lecheler, Nele Goutier
Abstract

Major news outlets increasingly use immersive techniques in their journalistic productions. The idea is that, through the application of immersive technologies, the news consumer can engage with and be part of the story. However, we do not know, to what extent this promise is actually fulfilled in productions currently accessible to news audiences. This study uses a multi-step approach to fill this knowledge gap. First, based on an interdisciplinary literature review, we propose a conceptual model of immersive journalism. We then use the elements of this model to content analyze 189 journalistic productions that are labeled as immersive by the producers, including 360 degree videos, computer-generated VR, and interactive, 360 web productions, stemming from a variety of outlets and countries. Results show that the level of user immersion in these productions is actually limited, with little interaction and technical inclusion possibilities. Our results contribute to an emerging field of journalism studies, in which the user plays a new role when interacting with advancing technologies.

Organisation(s)
Department of Communication
External organisation(s)
HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht, University of Amsterdam (UvA)
Journal
Journalism
Volume
23
Pages
479-498
No. of pages
20
ISSN
1464-8849
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1177/1464884920922006
Publication date
05-2020
Peer reviewed
Yes
Austrian Fields of Science 2012
508007 Communication science, 508014 Journalism
Keywords
ASJC Scopus subject areas
Communication, Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)
Portal url
https://ucris.univie.ac.at/portal/en/publications/a-firstperson-promise-a-contentanalysis-of-immersive-journalistic-productions(25244f94-0c7f-446d-aabd-9787ea90d10c).html