Journalistic Narrative of Human-Interest Stories Using 360° Video Technology on the Al Jazeera Contrasts Platform
The "Manal al-Amal" Video as a Case Study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33282/abaa.v17i67.1245Keywords:
Narrative, Journalistic Narrative, 360° Video, Immersive Journalism, Al Jazeera ContrastsAbstract
This study investigates the journalistic narrative techniques employed in human interest stories through the use of virtual reality—or immersive—technologies. These innovations have revealed new narrative patterns that align with the unique nature of the story and the characteristics of digital publication platforms. The research aims to identify the mechanisms and principles underpinning journalistic narrative as well as the properties of narrative structure, and to delineate the constituent elements of narrative in this genre of news stories. The study’s sample consists of the human-interest news story “Manal al-Amal,” which utilizes 360° video technology on the digital platform Al Jazeera Contrasts. This story recounts the hardships endured by Yemeni children and mothers as a consequence of the war’s aftermath-marked by disease, hunger, and destruction.
The study is grounded in narrative theory, which is part of structural theories, and employs the methodology of narrative analysis. The researcher adopted the quadripartite narrative classification proposed by Catherine Rissman. The findings reveal that the reliance on journalistic narrative in such human-interest stories differs from conventional news texts in terms of the narrator, the narrative sequence, and narrative dramatization—a contrast to media framing—thereby fulfilling ideological communicative functions that help shape the ideas and opinions of the audience.
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