Al Jazeera’s Contrast wins OJA’s Immersive Storytelling award

Al Jazeera’s Contrast was awarded the Online Journalism Awards (OJA) in  the category Excellence in Immersive Storytelling category for its 360-film Yemen’s Skies of Terror. The awards were presented on 15 September, in Austin, Texas, as part of the US-based Online News Association 2018 conference.

Yemen's Skies of Terror is an immersive film by Contrast that sheds light on the suffering of Yemeni population, under the indiscriminate bombing and air raids over the past three years by Saudi led coalition against the Houthi rebels. The film features heart-breaking stories of three children from Sana’ and Al-Hudayeda who have lost their family members and loved ones in addition to losing homes after being destroyed during raids by the coalition forces.

Yemen’s Skies of Terror was filmed by two local journalists Manal Qaed Alwesabi and Ahmad Al Gohbari, following remote training by Al Jazeera’s Contrast team on 360 immersive filming, Manal and Ahmad were given the necessary equipment to document the day to day reality of life in war-torn country during the ongoing conflict.

The film is a testament to a true collaboration across borders, as Al Jazeera journalists worked hand in hand with the brave Yemeni journalists on the ground, alongside other Yemeni and international talent, from composers to animators.

Both Ahmad and Manal are thrilled to see the international community recognizing their work, hoping that the much needed stories coming out of Yemen will continue to be amplified. “I am happy if I see anything in the news about the war in Yemen. We need to feel that we are not alone,” says Manal.

The Online Journalism Awards (OJAs), launched in May 2000, is the only comprehensive set of journalism prizes honoring excellence in digital journalism around the world.

The OJA award is another achievement by Contrast team in bringing outstanding immersive content from around the world to global audience.

Contrast is Al Jazeera’s immersive media studio, specializing in the production of compelling 360-degree video, augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) content. The studio also collaborates with existing departments across Al Jazeera Media Network to produce best-in- class 2D and 3D content. Contrast produces unique documentaries, videos, and live streams that push the boundaries of narrative storytelling while taking viewers directly to the front lines of the biggest news events in the world. Learn more about the studio at contrastvr.com and social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, Vimeo and YouTube.