Work-in-Progress—Immersive Media and War Reporting in Colombia: Uses, Potentialities and Challenges of 360° Video to Narrate Armed Conflicts

Abstract

This work-in-progress article analyses the uses, potentials, and challenges of 360° video in narrating armed conflicts, using the Colombian armed conflict as a case study. The study employs a mixed-method approach of content analysis and in-depth interviews with experts, drawing upon relevant studies on immersive journalism and peace journalism. Results indicate that traditional media outlets in Colombia have scarcely employed 360° video. However, production companies have exploited the immersive storytelling format to recount peace-related events and post-conflict scenarios, utilizing the immersive capabilities of 360° video to portray the story from a peace-oriented viewpoint. This research addresses the potentials of immersive technologies, such as facilitating empathy and understanding, providing a comprehensive view of hard-to-access locations, and capturing spherical evidence, as well as challenges such as monetization, difficult adaptability to news events, and some ethical implications. The findings from this study can be used to create a set of guidelines that can be employed to educate journalists and media producers exploring immersive narratives globally.