Voices of VR #1706: Using Immersive Journalism to Document Genocide in Gaza with “Under the Same Sky”
Dec 7, 2025
Khalil Ashawi is a visual journalist and founder of Frontline in Focus XR; Hael Khalaf coordinates projects including Under the Same Sky; and Sami Sultan is a photojournalist from Gaza. They delve into the powerful use of immersive journalism to document the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Sami shares the challenges of frontline reporting and how 360° footage counters misinformation. The team discusses the emotional impact on audiences and their hopes for justice and freedom for Gazans, highlighting VR's potential to transform journalism.
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Environment Reveals Hidden Context
- 360 capture shows both front and back of scenes, which helps debunk claims that footage is staged or fabricated.
- The immersive field of view exposes context that traditional framing can hide, strengthening factual reporting.
Journalists Targeted Under Fire
- Sami sometimes removed his flak jacket and helmet because wearing them made him a target and journalists were being killed.
- He coordinated daily transfers of footage with Khalil because he couldn't guarantee surviving the next day.
Risky Camera Delivery And Lost Final Footage
- Khalil recruited Sami to film Gaza in 360 and it took one and a half months to get a camera into the south under dangerous conditions.
- Sami later escaped to Egypt but had equipment and one final day's footage stolen at the border, though earlier daily transmissions survived.