Today, we’re excited to release a guide to AR/XR in journalism, produced by Laura Hertzfeld, Director of the XR Partner Program at RYOT/Verizon Media Group (and former Journalism 360 program manager!).
The guide is a collection of teachable case studies that walk through how XR Partner Program projects came together in coordination with other new organizations, including timelines and challenges along the way.
Laura will answer AR/XR questions during a Q&A on June 16, 2020 at 3 p.m. ET. Register to reserve your spot.
We’ll be releasing the next and final guide in this series — an exploration of immersive storytelling ethics from Theresa Paulson and Jayson Chesler — in next month’s newsletter. This series is generously supported by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.
Noteworthy examples of AR/XR
Rocket man. Many tuned in to the recent rocket launch using USA TODAY/FLORIDA TODAY’s augmented reality app 321 LAUNCH, which overlays spaceflight controls over a user’s surroundings while following live video from SpaceX.
Drowning in plastic. A WebAR collaboration between Yahoo News and Reuters visualizes how many plastic bottles are sold around the world in certain increments of time, contrasted with iconic landmarks. In one day, the pile is half as tall as the Eiffel Tower — in a year, it’s higher than the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai.
Going the distance. To demonstrate the importance of social distancing during the COVID-19 outbreak, The New York Times created a 3D simulation of how cough droplets travel in a room.
Finding home. Many stories about foster care focus on abuse or crime. To create a more diverse depiction, USC’s JOVRNALISM program created individual profiles of foster youth using Snapchat Lens.
2070. National Geographic’s first augmented reality-enabled cover uses Instagram’s Spark AR tool to show how climate change will affect temperatures in cities around the world in 2070. Users can physically walk around a globe while pulling up data for specific locations.
This safe space. With social distancing now part of our everyday lives, Yahoo News’ augmented reality visualization allows users to measure six feet of distance between themselves and another person, while filling the space with art.
Remembering Stonewall. To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, HuffPost teamed up with RYOT to build a digital Stonewall Inn, featuring five different figures who tell firsthand accounts of the 1969 police raid that served as a major spark in the LGBTQ rights movement.
We always welcome your comments, links and other inputs to future issues. Send tips to karolle@journalists.org. Look for the next edition on July 10.
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