Empathy and Ethics in Crisis Reporting: an immersive VR workshop by the International Committee of the Red Cross
We’re excited to announce that N3Con 2019 will have a very special workshop ran by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). This unique, interactive experience will explore empathy in the context of conflict reporting.
The sound of gunfire approaches. Caught in conflict, you face a critical decision: Run or hide?
Using virtual reality technology, this decision is yours. The Right Choice is the first use of interactive VR by the humanitarian sector to give the viewer an active role in shaping the story of civilians trapped by war. As a collaboration between the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Google and creative agencies, it seeks to explore new ways of generating empathy.
How can journalists and the humanitarian sector learn from each other when it comes to reporting from war and disaster zones? How do we understand the empathy and humanity central to our work?
This workshop at HKU on Sunday, June 2—the last day of N3Con 2019—offers the opportunity to learn from the world’s most recognized humanitarian organization working to help millions of people affected by conflict and violence. The ICRC team will work with participants to explore questions of empathy, representation and humanitarian impact in pursuit of new ways to share stories from conflict and crisis zones.
Drawing on the ICRC’s experience in the field as well as virtual and augmented reality simulations, participants will discuss how to preserve the dignity of vulnerable people while sharing their story.
By the end of this session, participants will:
- Understand humanitarian approaches to storytelling in conflict zones and representing people affected by violence.
- Be aware of interactive and immersive forms of storytelling that can engage new audiences as empathy-generating tools.
- Be briefed on the sensitivities of reporting from conflict zones and how this awareness can inform their own journalism.
This workshop is recommended for journalists reporting in volatile contexts and hazardous situations and those who may in the future find themselves working in such conditions.
Pre-registration and a separate workshop ticket is required for this workshop, available when you register for N3Con. Click here to register now!
