Learn How to Tell Stories with Virtual Reality

Virtual reality is the new rage for news organizations trying to reach new audiences and tell stories in new ways. But is it really journalism? And does it make sense for you?

In this one-hour training, you’ll learn what virtual reality is, how it’s different from 360 video and augmented reality and how it can be used to engage audiences and tell stories in a journalistic context.

This online training, taught by two professionals with experience in VR, will cover what you need to get started on a tight budget. They’ll show you how others are using the technology creatively and discuss what works and what doesn’t. You’ll come away with an understanding of the nuances of capturing and producing content for these new platforms as well as the end-user experience.

Who should take this training:
- Journalists interested in using virtual reality to engage audiences with new forms of storytelling
- Creatives, marketers and content producers who want to experiment with the new technology
- Anyone who is interested in learning more about emerging technologies and platforms

About the Instructors:

Retha Hill joined the Cronkite faculty in 2007 after nearly eight years at BET, where she was vice president for content for BET Interactive, the online unit of Black Entertainment Television and the most-visited site specializing in African-American content on the Internet. Before joining BET, Hill was executive producer for special projects at washingtonpost.com. At the Cronkite School’s New Media Innovation and Entrepreneurship Lab, Hill works with students from multiple disciplines, including journalism, to research and develop digital media products for media companies. Her students have been experimenting with virtual reality for more than a year.

Shannon Perkins is the founder of Adventure VRogger, a VR project that integrates film and gaming in large-scale storytelling. Previously, he headed up Wired.com’s interactive technologies team. He has built award-winning interactive experiences and has worked in gamification at companies including Blackberry, Bunchball, IMVU and There.com. Perkins has been assisting students at the Cronkite School who are creating a virtual reality series.