NOTE: This report is provided free to the news media industry through the support of the Meta Journalism Project. If you are not an INMA member or registered user, click here to register and get your free report.

How news media organisations can start preparing now for extended reality (XR) to be ready when readers reach mass adoption is the focus of this report.

Key subjects covered in the report include:

• Setting the scene for XR.
• Tools and technologies to get started.
• Augmented Reality (AR) for news.
• Virtual Reality (VR) for news.
• Commercial opportunities of XR.
• What is the metaverse?

Among the report’s experts are Laura Hertzfeld, storytelling innovation executive; Robert Hernandez, professor of professional practice, University of Southern California; Chloe Rochereuil, co-founder and VR director at TARGO; Zillah Watson, executive producer, XR; Raymond Soto, senior director of emerging tech at Gannett | USA Today Network; and Stephen Shaw, global business development director at Iconic Engine.

Author

Jodie Hopperton is the lead for INMA’s Product Initiative. She is a British media executive based in Los Angeles whose career has featured corporate roles, technology start-ups, moderating events, authoring, and speaking at news industry events. She has served as interactive manager for Trinity Mirror, director of syndication and licensing for the New York Times, and as a consultant to media and tech start-ups focused on video distribution, VR, audio tech, and more.

Who should read this report

Newsroom leaders and c-suite at news media companies

Detailed overview

How news media organisations can start preparing now for extended reality (XR) to be ready when readers reach mass adoption is the focus of this report.

“The Opportunities and Blueprint of XR for Media” explores:

• Setting the scene for XR.
• Tools and technologies to get started.
• Augmented Reality (AR) for news.
• Virtual Reality (VR) for news.
• Commercial opportunities of XR.
• What is the metaverse?

As hardware and technology that allow readers to move between screens and glasses continue to become cheaper, more readers will have access to immersive experiences, allowing media companies to give readers much more context at one time.

The new report, based on INMA’s six-part Master Class series, “How newsrooms can creatively use and report on XR,” in partnership with Meta, provides a blueprint for news media companies to navigate the new “reality” landscape.

Key subjects covered in the report include:

• XR’s specific benefits and opportunities as related to the news media industry.
• How to explain XR to readers.
• Specific tools media companies can use that cost less than an iPhone in some cases.
• Why media companies should give platforms like Snapchat another look.
• Publishers must remember the story matters more than the platform

Among the report’s experts are Laura Hertzfeld, storytelling innovation executive; Robert Hernandez, professor of professional practice, University of Southern California; Chloe Rochereuil, co-founder and VR director at TARGO; Zillah Watson, executive producer, XR; Raymond Soto, senior director of emerging tech at Gannett | USA Today Network; and Stephen Shaw, global business development director at Iconic Engine.

“After a false start for news organisations experimenting with VR in 2015 the tipping point is finally coming,” said Jodie Hopperton, the report’s author. “We don’t yet know what the metaverse will look like, but we do know that AR is already built into most social platforms and VR headset sales are increasing dramatically. This report serves as the groundwork to start building skills and strategy for all that is coming in the very near future.”