Various publishers have experimented with virtual reality (VR) as an immersive storytelling medium to transport audiences to different places and situations as if they were actually there.
VR projects such as the BBC's No Small Talk, The New York Times' Indefinite, and the Guardian's First Impressions engage viewers by making them part of the story, giving them a unique sense of presence that no other medium has been able to do before.
But just as this technology can be used for good, there are also growing concerns amongst the public that it can have detrimental effects on society, particularly within other industries, for example, through the use of violent VR video games.
In this week's podcast, Catherine Allen, virtual reality curator and creator, explains how this public anxiety, a moral panic, towards VR could affect the way news organisations are able to tell stories in this format.
"We just don't know what can happen. There might be some valid concerns, but we should address them to stop them from being blown out of proportion and killing a potentially incredible industry – we need to reflect on ourselves early," she said.
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