Spatial Journalism

PREFACE

This research study is based on spatial journalism and it emphasizes on exploring spatial journalism in context of Pakistan’s journalism ecosystem. Likewise, the challenges and the potential opportunities possessed by spatial journalism news Storytelling Avenue for Pakistan is explored in this research study. Moreover, spatial journalism's concept of incorporating place, location and space into the practice of journalism using virtual reality and augmented reality is gaining faith among the news production stakeholders around the globe. However, in Pakistan traditional mediums for news storytelling are used, therefore, there exists a gap which can be filled with innovative spatial journalism technologies which can ultimately go a long way in improving the quality and standard of Pakistan journalism ecosystem and it can be a great opportunity for Pakistan.?

Information age technological advancements have revolutionised the media industry, especially journalism practice. Technological advancements always have an impact on the role of journalists, media’s relationship and the nature of news (Pavlik, 2000). Moreover, Journalism is the practice of locating news and disseminating it among the audience via television, newspaper, radio and internet (Franklin, Hamer, Hanna, Kinsey, & Richardson, 2005). Earlier journalists in Pakistan had limited platforms for news storytelling limited to radio, newspapers and television but with the innovation of social media and smartphones the journalism practice’s trends altered. The emergence of technology has completely altered the traditional journalism trends and it has been beneficial on the both sides of consumers and the producers (Khattak & Nasir, 2011).The advent of mobile phones has transformed the dynamics of journalism in Pakistan (Umair, 2016). Likewise, Jenkins (2006) emphasised that for media houses nowadays it has become possible to reach the news consumers first and later distribute a particular story even before the reporter reaches back to the newsroom. Moreover, circulation of the newspaper has diminished on the local level but the internet audience's preferred mode of news consumption has transformed everything (Cho, Smith & Zentner, 2016). Similarly, the variety of platforms available to news consumers for consumption of news from digital platforms has altered the demands of news content greatly (Podolny , 2015). Furthermore, the current scenario of the journalism practice in Pakistan is that some of the journalists to convey their news stories use the platform of newspaper and television but predominantly the journalists around the globe have shifted to social media platforms (YouTube, Twitter, Facebook) to generate and disseminate news storytelling content to the viewers. In Pakistan predominant changes occurred in journalism and the journalist with various ways available to them for journalism due to technology advancement were trained to practice at a faster pace and deliver audience with variety of content (Siddique, 2020). Olausson (2017) emphasized that the innovation of the social media has brought pivotal transformations in the ecosystem of the crafting of news and the traditional media. Social media has become a modern pivotal method of communicative interactions with one and another (Kaplan & Haenlein, 2012). In addition, with the emergence of social media platforms benefits in context of various avenues of storytelling are provided to the journalists 2 in Pakistan in of the form of dissemination of their news stories content quickly among the audience and it also makes the news content a bit more engaging for the audience. The shift in technology has led to simplified way of news storytelling and has assisted in dissemination of news quickly (Deuze, 2004). Likewise, Ali and Kaur (2015) disclosed that journalists of Pakistan used social media technologies predominantly for their own assignments of news gathering, report making and articles preparation which helped them to a great extent of their news stories dissemination among the audience promptly and provided engaging content to the audience. New media (social media) poses interactivity that brings a lot of engaging content to the users which gives the audience a lot of freedom (Chen , 2012) . Despite these benefits there is also a drawback of social media journalism practice. Social media platforms have a huge chunk of information which makes it very difficult for the journalist to measure the authenticity of the news. Therefore, fake news in the form of disinformation is the current scenario’s journalism practice's biggest drawback. False news can hinder the confidence of the consumer and can erode the consumers trust on journalism news organization (Hopmann, Shehata, & Stromback, 2015). However, with the innovation of artificial intelligence in the form of augmented reality and virtual reality, journalism has transformed to a whole new level of immersive journalism and now journalists have the luxury of potential spatial journalism in which they can incorporate place, location and space into the practice of journalism and the audience can be immersed into the news stories by physically being present at the news location virtually. As Schmitz Weiss (2015) observed that spatial journalism is a phenomenon of emergent kind of journalism that incorporates location, space and place (augmented, virtual and physical) into the practice of journalism. Furthermore, Virtual Reality is a simulated three-dimensional computer-generated environment which enables the viewers to immerse into the virtual world which allows the viewers the feeling of being part of that environment physically. Virtual reality provides the users the ability to interact and move inside the virtual environment with objects (Nalbant & Bostan, 2006). Moreover, Augmented Reality is the enhanced interactive version of the real physical world environment in which the real physical world elements e.g. images, maps, infographics are depicted in an enhanced manner into the real world for the viewers by computer generated technology. Augmented Reality is a sort of a computer and human interaction in which computer-generated images and information are overlaid into the real physical world in real time (Craig, 2013). Consequently, Immersive Journalism is another term which is used to describe spatial journalism phenomena in which journalists by the help of spatial technologies (Augmented, Virtual) allows the audience first person 3 experience of the news events creating a sense of feeling as if they are present at the news scene in reality . Immersive Journalism gives the audience first person experience of news stories (De la Pe?a, 2010). Similarly, spatial journalism will immerse you into the news story and will put you in the cinematographer's shoes (Cadoux, 2019). Moreover, with artificial intelligence spatial journalism, the landscape of news storytelling will completely transform. As Joshi (2020) emphasised that the media industry is realising the power of spatial journalism and it is just a matter of time before it becomes a mainstream channel of storytelling. Similarly, Westlund (2013) explained that modern technologies have led to augmented journalism all around the world. Likewise, Jokela, Heliva, & Tina (2009) emphasised that modern day technology assists journalists and reporters in giving a live transmission of an event without any broadcast network. In addition, the shift in the journalism practice around the globe due to technological advancements has also made life easy for the journalists as it has released them from exhausting old traditional ways of journalism. Traditional Journalism as the name suggests is the traditional old method of extraction of news storytelling in which the journalist incorporates the old methods (newspapers, television, videos) to engage the audience. Individuals depended on newspapers and other means of communication for nearly a century, however, with the evolution of the internet the consumer's practices of news extraction evolved (Schudson, 2003). As Roose (2014) stated that companies of media in North Carolina incorporate artificial intelligence for writing sports, business and fantasy news stories. Similarly, as Linden (2017) explained that these news stories require a great deal of analysis and little creativity for which the machines of artificial intelligence are the best fit and it spares the journalists from committing exhausting man hours. Furthermore, Miller (2015) emphasised that technologies of artificial intelligence are taking more work of journalism reaching to a point where the news industry stakeholders are letting these technologies explore the news stories from the scratch. Likewise, Moses (2017) quoted the Washington Post example in which the Washington Post has incorporated a machine using artificial intelligence and has tasked it with writing over eight hundred articles. Therefore , the spatial journalism with augmented and virtual reality can be the potential future of Pakistan’s journalism , as Pavlik (2020) emphasised that as the technology develops and the news organisations get more comfortable with it , the current expectations is that these technologies are not only here to stay but they will execute the larger portion of the workload. In a nutshell purpose of this research study is to explore spatial journalism as the potential future of news storytelling in the context of Pakistan journalism ecosystem. 4 Furthermore, this research study will be executed by adopting the qualitative methodology in the form of interviews from 10 professional experts of abroad belonging to diverse fields of immersive journalism practitioners, journalism academic experts will be incorporated. Likewise, the interviews will also contain Pakistan journalism stakeholders. Subsequently, after the interviews are concluded the replies of the interviewees will be collected in document form and will be analysed by thematic analysis to know the potential of spatial journalism in the ecosystem of Pakistan and answer the research questions on which the optimal outcome of the research study will be deduced in terms of Pakistan journalism dynamics.?

PROBLEM STATEMENT

Spatial journalism concept of incorporating place, location and space into the practice of journalism using virtual reality and augmented reality is gaining faith among the news production stakeholders around the globe, Doyle, Gelman & Gill (2016) stated that the notion of incorporating virtual reality technology into the practice of journalism is growing steadily over the last few years. Furthermore, in Pakistan traditional ways of journalism e.g. newspaper, television and social media mediums are being used. The advent of technology has altered traditional journalism altogether. Electronic dissemination of information has greatly fascinated the editors and publishers of newspapers and magazines as well as other printed content. Distribution of information through computer-based technologies has been found with relatively more benefits on both sides, producers and consumers, compared with traditional means (Khattak & Nasir, 2011). However, in foreign countries news organizations spatial journalism is being deployed which has benefited their journalism and brought it to a whole new level. Likewise, news organisations are using the technology to further evolve their journalism practice. Journalists have begun to deploy virtual reality 360-degree videos as a storytelling platform for the audience. The news outlets which are deploying this latest storytelling technique are CNN, Vice News, Huffington Post and Associated Press (Owen, 2016). In addition, Pakistan has yet to enjoy the advantages of spatial journalism and has not explored the avenue of spatial journalism news storytelling (Khattak & Nasir, 2011). Therefore, traditional mediums of journalism in Pakistan has a gap which can be filled with innovative spatial journalism technologies which can ultimately go a long way in improving the quality and standard of Pakistan journalism ecosystem and it can be a great opportunity for Pakistan journalism stakeholders . Therefore, this research study will explore spatial journalism challenges and opportunities in context of Pakistan’s journalism ecosystem.?

?RESEARCH QUESTIONS

This paper aims to find the answers of following questions which are as under:

RQ 1: What can be the potential challenges and benefits of spatial journalism in the journalism ecosystem of Pakistan?

RQ 2: How spatial journalism can affect the current journalism practices of Pakistan?

LITERATURE REVIEW

FROM NEWSPAPER JOURNALISM TO SPATIAL JOURNALISM

Journalism practices have evolved overtime. Likewise, Photography in the nineteenth century and the printing press in the fourteenth century had an evolutionary impact on the constructive shape of society; we are in the middle of a new media revolution (Lev Manovich, 2001). Journalist storytelling for the local audience was initiated with the invention of the printing press. There was a man named Johannes Gutenberg who invented the printing press which started the printing storytelling revolution for the audience in the form of newspapers. Consequently, the printing press emerged in the mid-15th century substantially improved the printing into a master art form (Hernandez & Rue , 2015) . However, with the passing time technological advancements in the printing press occurred and with that multiple numbers of newspapers were available for the local audience to view a news story. Substantial development of journalism and modernising of the newspapers took place in 19th century and it was simplified by the use of automated printing presses, cheap quality wood paper, typesetting and typewriting machines (Gaudreault, 2012). However, with technological advancements the medium of storytelling of news changed from newspapers to radio in the 19th century. Temple & Temple (2008) explained the evolution of journalism from newspapers to radio that in the state of war people switched to their radios and got quicker and accurate information as compared to the newspapers (Temple & Temple, 2008).Similarly, the evolution of journalism practices were not limited to radio; another platform came in the form of television after radio which further transformed the journalist news storytelling potential for the audience. Subsequently, after television the medium of internet came into the ecosystem of the universe which provided the journalist an online 8 platform of news storytelling. The contemporary form of online journalism was shaped, created, distributed and edited by the internet (Friend & Singer, 2015). Internet made it possible to deliver information to anyone around the globe who has access to computer, smartphone or other advanced technology (Lynch, 2013). Furthermore, the medium of digital platforms in the form of websites were abundantly used by the journalists for news storytelling, however, with technological advancement another ultra-smooth and fast medium of news storytelling was introduced for the journalists in the form of social media. Social media is defined as the subset of the internet in the form of various applications of apps. Social media is a group of internet based applications that are built on technological and ideological foundations of the web which allows the exchange and creation of user composed content (Kaplan & Haenlein, 2010). Moreover, social media has increased the pace of the journalist news story telling dissemination among the audience to a substantial scale. Social media has increased the ability of disseminating various kinds of news among the audience quicker than ever before (Steensen, 2011). However, the current era of communication technology in the journalism context has not stopped evolving, the technological advancements are there and the concept of spatial journalism equipped with virtual reality and augmented reality can completely transform journalism news storytelling to further heights. Media industry is realising the power of spatial journalism and it is just a matter of time before it becomes a mainstream channel of storytelling (Joshi, 2020). Moreover, journalists from the evolution from newspaper to social media were equipped with countless domains of news storytelling avenues for the audience but viewing the news stories scenes by being at that place physically in a virtual environment is the future of journalism which is already being practised by journalism news organisations like Reuters, Washington Post, CNN and Associated Press. Furthermore, spatial journalism is an immersive journalism that incorporates immersive technologies for news story telling for the audience. Augmented reality immersive technology is the overlaying of objects in a virtual manner in the real physical world (Fischer, 2006). Similarly, virtual reality immersive technology is a three-dimensional computer simulated virtual environment (Bryson, 1995). Moreover, spatial journalism equipped with virtual and augmented reality for news storytelling has not yet been incorporated in the journalism ecosystem of Pakistan, however, it has been predominantly used by news organizations around the globe. In Pakistan due to lack of scholarly work and research data which can urge Pakistan stakeholders for usage of immersive technologies is not there that is why immersive technologies of virtual and 9 augmented reality for news crafting has not been explored yet in Pakistan journalism dynamics (Dankwa , 2021). Furthermore, USA Today and Washington Post have applied the immersive feature for their news stories, however, New York Times has shown that they will use augmented reality in their news story telling as a regular element (Palladino, 2018). Likewise, Owen (2016) emphasised that Journalists have begun to deploy virtual reality 360-degree videos as a storytelling platform for the audience. The news outlets which are deploying this latest storytelling technique are CNN, Vice News, Huffington Post and Associated Press (Owen, 2016). In addition, multiple newspapers and news organizations of abroad e.g. Guardian, BBC, Discovery Max and Reuters have predominantly incorporated immersive news stories content in their newsrooms via virtual and augmented reality and the New York Times initiated the usage and crafting of news with the help of virtual reality by crafting more than 150 VR videos of immersive experiences and also launched a permanent channel for 360 degree videos by the name of The Daily 360 (Dominguez, 2013). Furthermore, the immersive first person experience of news crafting has been the object of interest of the newsrooms for the past eight years and its first project was initiated by the author in the Ted Talks show in which author said that what if you can view a story with your entire body and not just the mind (De la Pena, 2010). Likewise, De la Pena being the pioneer of immersive journalism concept explained that the viewers in the immersive journalism news story telling can enter into virtual news stories world in various ways as oneself: a visitor gaining first hand access to virtual versions of locations where the story is taking place or the visitor entering in the virtual world of news story telling can view news through perspective of a character depicted in the news story (De la Pena, 2010). Moreover, since 2014 Eesti Ekspress has deployed the journalistic storytelling theme of longread for investigative virtual news reporting and a similar theme of virtual news storytelling is deployed by major newspapers and digital channels i.e. Guardian, The New York Times and BBC (Watson, 2017).?

VARIOUS DIMENSIONS OF SPATIAL JOURNALISM EXPLORED

Spatial Journalism different dimensions has been explored by the scholars in the past. Bedri (2018) explored the spatial news dimension with augmented and virtual reality as the possible avenue for content production for the news organization for news storytelling. Furthermore, in his research study, journalism with spatial technologies using augmented and virtual reality evaluated the series of intriguing spatial technologies potential experiences for journalism. Moreover, in the research study the 3D visualization virtual reality and augmented reality platform was analysed in the ecosystem of media based journalism. 3D models predominantly improves the journalism medium by providing spatial representations that are actually closer to common perceptual experience (Doyle, 1998).

Furthermore, another dimension of spatial technology was explored by Rob Kitchin, Tracey P. Lauriault and Matthew W. Wilson . Kitchin, Lauriault & Wilson (2017) explored the spatial locative technologies role and impacts on social life. Furthermore, in the research the spatial locative technology apps were identified e.g. API’s, GIS, open street map as the potential mediums innovative way of communication using spatial technology apps. Spatial technology practices between people , places , technology and place /space ; they reshape spatial knowledge , enact spatial politics and mediate spatial behaviour (Leszczynski, 2016; Elwood & Mitchell, 2016; Elwood & Leszczynski, 2016) . Hence, this research dimension of spatial media incorporated all the spatial locative apps and studied its impacts on the social life, politics, economics, and governance, culture and marketing aspects of the society. Robert E. Gutsche, Jr. & Kristy Hess (2020) explored the transformation of news spaces journalism into the places of meaning. Audiences has experienced the feeling of journalism among the sense of the place and the space, from news being experienced on ancient pulpits to the long form journalism news storytelling experienced on mobile and tablets (Gutsche &Hess 2020). In this study it was observed that in the modern day and age mobile phones, homepages and transformation of news functions as geographic imaginaries of places where a tap transform the ideological representations that are embedded in the journalism news storytelling. Journalism is shaped by the places where it is practiced and produced. However, the place can have a certain meaning – making function within physical geographic spaces (Schmitz Weiss 2015). Approaches of the journalists in the newsrooms and the covering of the crime scenes are getting an experience of resurgence space and place physical geographical journalism (Schmitz Weiss 2020; Usher 2019). Furthermore, in this research 12 study of space and place into the practice of journalism scholars explored initially the spatial immersion dimension in the journalism news story telling. Approaches such as the concept of spatial journalism (Schmitz Weiss 2015) has been applied by the scholars to understand the immersive news story telling by using place, location and space in journalism. In spatial dimension of news story telling journalism the individual moves beyond the conventional approaches with immersive journalism as viewers are connected to characters and scenes of the news story (Robert E. Gutsche, Jr. & Kristy Hess, 2020). Furthermore, temporal fluctuations dimension of time in journalism news story telling was explored in the previous studies. The ever increasing issues of mobility highlight the transforming nature of homogenous empty time and its relationship with the significance of autonomous temporality having control over one individual on how the individual uses one’s own discretionary time (Goodin, 2008). Moreover, in the traditional practices of journalism the time is short for the journalist to construct the news story. However spatial temporal dimension of journalism allows the journalist smooth and rapid ways of news storytelling. Journalism, location and mobility focuses on the production of the news, however, there is increasing influence of sense of time on the users (Fortunati & O’Sullivan, 2020). In addition, materiality (physical) dimension of spatial journalism news story telling was also explored by the scholars. Likewise, the physical dimension of the virtual world remains pivotal component of the individual’s news storytelling experience. Audience in the materiality virtual world are directed through viewing of content, sources and the story lines which provides the users independence in their navigation (Gutsche and Hess 2019). Furthermore, in this dimension of the spatial technology of news story telling the physical dimension of journalism incorporating virtual experience was analysed by the scholars. Furthermore, the scholars after analysing various spatial dimensions of news storytelling with immersive technologies concluded that journalists will continue to compartmentalize their lives into news places, spaces and moments. Likewise, spatial various dimensions of news storytelling of time, mobility, materiality and immersive technologies gives interpretations of geographies and constructs a roadmap of physical, augmented and virtual reality in digital spaces (Robert E. Gutsche, Jr. & Kristy Hess 2020) . Joshi (2020) explored that spatial journalism will be the future of media news story telling with augmented and virtual reality immersive journalism. Furthermore, in the study Joshi explained that augmented reality will potentially replace 2D images and videos used in television journalism news storytelling with 3D virtual immersive journalism news story telling i.e. with news organizations using augmented reality apps on mobile phones to 13 broadcast sporting and entertainment events in an immersive way to the audience. Likewise, a simple article which the viewers read on newspapers can come to real world with spatial journalism in a way that newspapers can have codes which will be ultimately scanned and the viewers can view that happening mentioned in the news article in the real physical world by augmented reality graphics in a more engaging way. In addition, Joshi (2020) explored virtual reality forefront of complete virtual world journalism as well in which virtual reality 360 degree view of news stories is provided in which the audience can immerse into the environment and can walk through the news stories' physical environment of warzones, sports events and can stand next to their favourite artist in the music concert. Likewise, the New York Times initiated the use of 360 degree videos in news story telling. New York Times use of immersive 360 degree videos renewed industry interest in immersive news storytelling. Furthermore, BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) has used virtual reality storytelling in the form of the program “We Wait VR” in which the audience are immersed into the journey with the Syrian family to experience the feeling of a refugee environment. With the benefits that Virtual Reality storytelling brings soon it will become a common platform of experiencing media (De la Pe?a 2010). PICTURE 3 Spatial Journalism Phenomena Elaborated Courtesy (Joshi, 2020) spatial journalism will be the future of media, thanks to VR and AR However, spatial journalism equipped with augmented and virtual reality is a new concept for Pakistan news story telling stake holders but it is picking up pace consumers for 14 permanent adaptation in the future. Use of immersive technologies has completely changed the notion of the audiences in Pakistan (Rashid, Raza & Farooq, 2021). Furthermore, in Pakistan various platforms of augmented reality journalism with the help of mobile apps. Jang mobile app is a common example of this in which the readers of the news stories are able to view new stories with the help of augmented reality (Kamran, 2020). Moreover, in Pakistan the concept of delivering news stories by the help of immersive spatial technologies is not well thought after. However, with the pace with which the world is using immersive spatial technologies in the form of virtual and augmented reality for news story telling it is not far that immersive technology will soon will be used with consistency by the news organizations (Kamran, 2020).Therefore, these were the different dimensions of spatial media and news storytelling which were studied by the scholars in the past. However, the concept of spatial journalism equipped with augmented and virtual reality in the context of Pakistan journalism ecosystem has not been explored so far. Hence, there exists a gap in the traditional journalism ecosystem of Pakistan which can be filled by spatial journalism in which immersive news story telling experience can be constructed by the journalists of Pakistan providing a more engaging and rapid way of news story telling to the viewers .

THEORATICAL FRAMEWORK

The diffusion innovation theory will be used as a theoretical framework to support the concept of spatial journalism of news storytelling which is spreading and starting to be deployed in news storytelling by many foreign news organizations as the potential future and a bridge to fill the gap of traditional news storytelling journalism ecosystem of Pakistan. Furthermore, the diffusion innovation theory was developed by Everett Rogers which states that an innovation of an idea with the passage of time gains momentum and diffuses (spreads) through the social system (Sahin, 2006). Likewise, the end result of the diffusion of new innovative ideas among the social system results in the adoption of new innovative ideas by the people of the social system. Diffusion is the process in which the innovation of the idea spreads through certain channels with passage of time among the people of the social system (Sahin, 2006) . In addition, according to Rogers there are five categories of the adopters of the innovation e.g. innovators, early adopters, early majority, late majority, laggards. Spatial journalism with augmented and virtual reality is a new innovative idea which is being practiced by news organizations for news storytelling which makes them according to diffusion innovation theory as the early adopters of the innovative news story telling. Likewise , spatial journalism in the context of Pakistan’s traditional journalism practice is not deployed yet and the journalist in Pakistan are using the traditional ways of news story telling through television , newspapers and social media , therefore , Pakistan journalism ecosystem comes in late majority adopters category according to diffusion innovation theory model in which ecosystem of journalism in Pakistan is skeptical of the innovative spatial journalism news story telling and will only adopt it after it has been tried by majority . So, as spatial journalism is being practiced by many news organizations in the form of immersive virtual reality news storytelling content for the audience. Therefore, it is just a matter of time that spatial journalism with immersive technologies of augmented and virtual reality will diffuse (spread) in the news storytelling social system of Pakistan’s journalism and ultimately will be adopted following the diffusion innovation theory model.

Qualitative Research

Furthermore, in order to collect data the methodology that this research study used was qualitative methodology in the form of semi-structured online interviews with 10 expert professionals belonging from USA, Spain, England and Pakistan. In addition, the sample of this research study revolves around the five experts from abroad (USA, Spain, England) and five experts from Pakistan.

Sampling Method

Sampling method is a very important phase of research methodology because when a research is conducted it is very difficult to collect data from every person, instead a sample is selected for the research methodology. Sample includes the group of participants involved the research study. Furthermore, to draw authentic conclusion for the research study the researcher has to carefully streamline the sample. Probability sampling means that every member of the population has a chance of being selected whereas non-probability sampling includes individuals who are selected based on non-random criteria, and not every individual has a chance of being included. Moreover, as this research is exploratory and qualitative in terms of magnitude which includes interpretation of data while observing human behaviour, therefore, probability sampling of simple random sampling method was used in this research to streamline the sample population for this research study which was based on random criteria selection of the individuals for the interviews. Likewise, the probability sampling method is the sampling procedure in which every individual of the population has equal chance of being selected, however, in the probability random sampling method the population is streamlined to a random sample of individuals with a specific random criteria. Therefore, in this specific research study the population sample required for exploring the research study needed individuals from the background of practitioners and academic experts of spatial immersive journalism approaches criteria. Consequently, the probability simple random sampling method as a result is the best suited method to streamline the individuals from entire population based on specific criteria from the background of spatial immersive journalism for interviews.

Therefore, this research study by the help of probability simple random sampling method streamlined the five experts from Pakistan, three from USA, One from Spain and One from England for semi – structured online interviews. In Depth Interviews Initially abroad experts were interviewed which started from Amy Schmitz Weiss an American Journalist & PH.D. Professor in the School of Journalism & Media Studies at San Diego State University, the founder and director of the Virtual Journalism Learning Centre, involved in new media for more than a decade and the inventor of spatial Journalism phenomena. Subsequently, Eva Domínguez an Expert Spanish Journalist of immersive narratives & practitioner of virtual reality journalism production and award winner, boosted with 20 years of experience was interviewed. Afterwards, Nonny De La Pena an American PH.D professor & emerging media of immersive journalism practitioner, God Mother of Virtual Reality Journalism with close to 20 years’ experience was reached for an interview. In addition, after De La Pena, John V. Pavlik an American Professor in the Department of Journalism and Media Studies with his books published on Journalism in the Age of Virtual Reality and a co-developer of the Situated Documentary a new form of journalism storytelling using immersive with Ph.D. degree experience was interviewed. Afterwards, Adrian Posteuca an England origin Consultant of new media technologies of AR and VR was interviewed. These were the five experts from abroad who were contacted for online interviews. Moreover, in order to take the opinion on the research study from Pakistan relevant experts, Five Pakistan origin experts were incorporated in the online interviews. Likewise, Ahmed Quraishi a PTV correspondent & Journalist with two decades of experience in Pakistan/MENA region/Gulf was interviewed. Similarly, Asad Baig a Journalist, media strategist and founder of Media Matters for democracy in Pakistan with close to 10 years’ experience in Geo and Ary News was reached out for an interview. Afterwards, Sumera Gulzar a digital artist and a scholar of new Media and is affiliated with higher education for the last 12 years with recently venturing into immersive media research in Pakistan was 18 interviewed. Subsequently, Osman Ahsan Sheik Founder of HomeVism Company associated with practice of immersive technology of AR and VR for Developing Pakistan Sector was interviewed. Afterwards, Minahil Chaudhry Co – Founder of Softoxan Immersive AR and VR studio in Pakistan was contacted for online interview. Furthermore, all the experts were approached for interview via Email, LinkedIn and twitter. In addition, interviews were conducted on email using google meet. Moreover, the notes were made of the responses of the interviewees during interviews and these notes were used in thematic analysis for generating codes and then ultimately the common themes and sub themes were framed out of all the interviewee’s responses and ultimately the outcome of the research study was framed to answer the research questions. Qualitative research methodology medium is an exploratory research and its integral parts collection, analysis and interpretation of data while observing the human behaviour (Boodhoo & Purmessur, 2009). Therefore, qualitative interviews methodology was incorporated in this research study because qualitative methodology has the potential to ultimately give the researcher a more credible data and variety of diverse opinions due to its futuristic approach.?

RESULTS & DISSCUSION

The main research questions that were to be answered by thematic analysis are as under:

RQ 1: What can be the potential challenges and benefits of spatial journalism in the journalism ecosystem of Pakistan?

RQ 2: How spatial journalism can affect the current journalism practices of Pakistan?

In the thematic analysis of the responses of the respondents during online interviews various facets of their discussions were analysed and afterwards the main crux of all the interviewees was transcribed in relation to the research study research questions.

Likewise, the interesting points of all the respondents in the form of codes were generated in accordance with the research questions. Afterwards, the codes were analysed and they were used to generate theme and sub-themes.

The main themes and sub-themes streamlined in thematic analysis are as under:

THEME 1: OPPORTUNITY

The initial theme which was complicated in the analysis was opportunity. In the online interviews of the respondent’s majority perceived that spatial journalism is an opportunity for Pakistan journalism ecosystem. Majority of the respondents said that spatial journalism is an intriguing avenue of news storytellers in Pakistan which can boost the engagement of news story telling to next level in Pakistan.

Sub Themes: New Intriguing Avenue Spatial dimension news can be an opportunity of new method and pathway for journalism in Pakistan in which complete immersive first person stories can be created in which the viewers who were just limited to read on newspapers and watch on television will be able to experience the news by being at location physically thus paving a way of complete evolution of journalism news storytelling in Pakistan. Immersive Experience Spatial news and its storytelling in Pakistan ecosystem has the potential of complete immersion in news in Pakistan in which the reporters covering certain matches, award shows or political speeches will have the opportunity to complete immerse the audience in the virtual world and provide them news stories in which they are more engaged and connected to the immersive experience rather than newspaper and television. Raising Calibre Another main sub-theme which was analysed from various respondents’ responses was that spatial journalism can be big potential opportunity for Pakistan to raise their calibre of news storytelling to the next level by incorporating spatial dimension technology and news storytelling. Likewise, with traditional journalism practices in Pakistan the news storytelling is limited to seeing and reading whereas with spatial dynamic news story telling a complete new dimension of experiencing of news stories can be provided thus raising the calibre of journalism in Pakistan to next level.

THEME 2: NOT A THREAT RATHER A STANDARD RAISER

The theme which was analysed in the thematic analysis of all the respondents’ responses was that they perceived spatial journalism news storytelling in Pakistan not a threat but a chance of further strengthening the calibre of news storytelling in Pakistan. With the spatial dimension news storytelling being incorporated predominantly in foreign countries the perception of usage of such news storytelling dimension and technology in Pakistan was considered by stakeholders in Pakistan a potential threat to traditional old practices in Pakistan, however, in the online interviews majority of the respondent said that spatial news story telling dimension is compelling tool to further enhance the journalism standard in Pakistan rather than a threat.

Sub Themes: Pakistan Traditional Journalism Practices In Pakistan journalism practices used for news storytelling are through newspapers, television and social media, however, spatial dimension news storytelling will not replace these traditional mediums but spatial news story telling will be next to these traditional mediums for news storytelling in Pakistan and will ultimately evolve the journalism to next level of news storytelling of journalism which is being practiced by the world.

THEME 3: OBJECTIVE NEWS STORYTELLING WITH BETTER CONTEXT

During the online interviews majority of the respondents viewed spatial dimension news storytelling beneficial for Pakistan and streamlined the benefits of using such news storytelling in Pakistan which included that with spatial news storytelling completely Objective credible news storytelling will be incorporated with more context and better understanding of the news stories. Similarly, with spatial journalism the audience will be the first-person viewers of the news stories by physically being at spot of news stories and there will be no third person involved to explain the news stories to the viewers , the viewers themselves will generate the outcome of the spatial news stories which will as a result remove the misinformation , disinformation and sensationalism from journalism in Pakistan and spatial news stories will provide a better context and understanding to audiences .

Sub Themes: Misinformation, Disinformation and Sensationalism Removal With spatial dimension news storytelling in Pakistan the misinformation, disinformation and sensationalism aspects in Pakistan journalism news storytelling can be removed thus providing a pathway for constructing completely objective news for the audiences. Better Contextual News Storytelling Spatial news storytelling in Pakistan ecosystem can provide news stories with better context and understanding for the audience. With spatial news the audience can go in the virtual world of news and can stand next their favourite celebrity , sportsman or film star and view them by physically being their thus giving them more context and better understanding of the events.

Effective Tool to Fight Fake News Problem Spatial journalism can be used in Pakistan as an effective tool to fight and neutralize the fake news problem. As spatial dimension news storytelling allows completely objective news , therefore , the big problem of fake news faced by Pakistan journalism ecosystem can be neutralized to big extant by incorporating spatial journalism in the storytelling dynamics of Pakistan.

THEME 4: CHALLENGE OF TECHNICAL AWARENESS, TRAINING, ETHICAL ISSUES AND COSTLY EQUIPMENT

The majority respondents during the interviews streamlined the major challenges of spatial journalism news storytelling in Pakistan ecosystem. According to the respondents the major challenge of adaptation of spatial journalism in Pakistan can be lack of technical training and awareness among the journalism stakeholders in Pakistan. Moreover, the expensive equipment needed to produce such type of journalism can be another challenge for Pakistan. Similarly, ethical issues which arise from spatial dimension news storytelling can be an another challenge of spatial journalism in Pakistan context.

Sub Themes: Technical awareness and training challenge Spatial journalism news storytelling has its dimension of news storytelling and techniques. However, in context of Pakistan journalism news storytellers the awareness and training of incorporating such dimension of news storytelling is very limited. Therefore, in the online interview’s majority of the respondents viewed the lack of technical training and awareness regarding spatial journalism as a major hurdle for its adaptation in Pakistan.

Costly Equipment Spatial journalism news storytelling requires its own gadgets for producing immersive firstperson journalism. However, the respondents in the online interviews perceived that in the context of Pakistan the stakeholders of journalism will not be able to afford spatial journalism gadgets to produce such type of journalism because in the respondents view this technology is being used by news organization around the globe who have the capability of affording such type of technology but in case of Pakistan the respondents viewed the costly equipment requirement as a major hurdle for Pakistan in adaptation of spatial journalism in Pakistan.

Ethical Issues Another key challenge in context of Pakistan of spatial journalism streamlined by the respondents in the interview were ethical issues associated with producing spatial journalism. The ethical issues of empathy concern can be generated among the audience by spatial journalism in which they are so much immersed in to the virtual world that they are pushed to a state of empathy disorder in which they are not able to differentiate between real world and virtual world. Moreover, in the virtual world of spatial journalism reporting of news the issue of agenda setting challenge is also there in which the journalist can be tempted to omit the facts of the news and transfer their own biased facts via spatial journalism. Another ethical issue pointed out by the respondents during the interviews of spatial journalism news storytelling was the harmful impacts on the mental health of the audience. In the virtual world of news reporting the audiences are trivialized to such experience that they are dipped into the state of physical and emotional vulnerability. The viewer's body is vulnerable to the actual surroundings while he or she is immersed within the virtual space, causing a cognitive shifting between the two realities. Users are often surprised or shocked when enter in the virtual experience, introducing mental and physical vulnerabilities.

THEME 5: SPATIAL NEWS STORYTELLING DIMENSION IN LONG FUTURE IN CONTEXT OF PAKISTAN

Respondents during the interviews perceived spatial dimension news storytelling in the long future of Pakistan as a major tool which will be used for storytelling. The respondents were of the view that in the long future immersive spatial technologies will become a main feature of practice for storytellers in the world let along Pakistan and also stressed on the point that the stakeholders of journalism in Pakistan should give spatial news storytelling a try and test it.

Sub Theme: Spatial dimension news story telling should be given a try in Pakistan The respondent during the interviews were of the notion that spatial dimension news storytelling has its challenges but it also has its benefits , therefore , spatial dimension news story telling should be given a try in Pakistan journalism ecosystem because with spatial immersive news stories the journalism of Pakistan can be evolved to the next level .

THEME 6: AWARENESS VIA TRAINING WORKSHOPS AND SEMINARS Respondents during the interviews in order to address the lack of technical awareness and training challenge of Pakistan stake holders regarding spatial journalism news storytelling stressed upon the point that proper awareness and training workshops should be conducted in Pakistan to circulate the concept of spatial journalism among Pakistan stake holders so that they can comprehend the possible opportunity and improvement which can be boosted by incorporating spatial journalism news storytelling in Pakistan diaspora.

Sub Theme: Spatial journalism training in Pakistan In Pakistan the stakeholders of journalism have a lack of knowhow of spatial journalism , therefore , the respondents during the online interviews stressed upon the point that stakeholders of journalism should be made aware of spatial journalism by regular conduct of training and awareness workshops so that they can know the concept of spatial journalism and accept the possible paradigm shift in news story telling in Pakistan can be boosted by spatial journalism dimension of news story telling. In a nutshell after examining all the results of thematic analysis in the form of themes and their sub-themes in accordance with the research questions of the research study, the main crux of the research has framed an outcome that spatial journalism is more than an opportunity rather than a challenge for Pakistan journalism diaspora.

Likewise , during the analysis of the research study majority of the interviews respondents viewed spatial journalism as an opportunity for Pakistan ecosystem in which multiple benefits of spatial journalism i.e., New Intriguing Avenue of news story telling , Immersive Experience (Spatial news and its storytelling in Pakistan ecosystem has the potential of complete immersion in news in Pakistan in which the reporters covering certain matches, award shows or political speeches will have the opportunity to complete immerse the audience in the virtual world) , Raising Calibre (spatial journalism can be big potential opportunity for Pakistan to raise their calibre of news storytelling to the next level) , Objective News Storytelling with better Context , Effective Tool to Fight Fake News Problem were streamlined. Moreover, the challenges of spatial journalism in ecosystem of Pakistan were also pointed out by the experts, however, experts were of the opinion that there are more opportunities rather than challenges of spatial journalism in Pakistan context. Therefore, the respondents were of the opinion that Pakistan journalism stakeholders should give this new avenue of storytelling (spatial journalism) a try and it should be tested in Pakistan. In addition, the respondents suggested that awareness training workshops and seminars should be conducted so that the lack of awareness of such type of journalism news storytelling among journalism stakeholders in Pakistan can be addressed and the stakeholders can know the potential of spatial journalism in Pakistan ecosystem and ultimately think about its adaptation in Pakistan.

Furthermore, after all in Pakistan when there was no smartphones technology in Pakistan but in the world smartphones were being used abundantly, there were fears before smartphones technology adoption in Pakistan among audience and practitioners about its expensive cost hurdle and its feasibility hurdles but ultimately smartphones technology slowly but gradually came to Pakistan and was accepted by Pakistan with open hands and it was a great success. Therefore, every technology before its adoption has major fears and hurdles among the practitioners and similar is the case with spatial journalism news storytelling technology in Pakistan context. Technology always plays an important role in upgrading and raising the calibre of every domain it is associated with. Similarly, with spatial journalism avenue of news storytelling the opportunity of upgrading and raising the calibre of journalism news storytelling in Pakistan is there for the stakeholders in Pakistan to think about and practically implement it.?

CONCLUSION

In a nutshell after analysis of expert’s responses during interviews by thematic analysis and the results of the analysis in the form of themes, this research study has framed a conclusion narrative that spatial journalism news storytelling avenue can be a great opportunity for Pakistan journalism ecosystem rather than a challenge. Moreover, in the research study the experts have also emphasized on the spatial journalism training workshops and seminars conduction in Pakistan to address the gap of Pakistan stakeholder’s awareness regarding it. In addition, spatial journalism avenue story telling should be tried and tested in Pakistan journalism diaspora because with spatial news stories the audience and the journalism stakeholders in Pakistan can move to world of complete virtual news storytelling ecosystem and it can be a paradigm shift for journalists in Pakistan to raise their calibre to next level in terms of news storytelling and compete with modern news storytelling deployed around the globe.?