The Google internet homepage is displayed on a product at a store in London, Britain January 23, 2016.
The Google internet homepage is displayed on a product at a store in London, Britain January 23, 2016. Reuters/Neil Hall

Euronews will go down in history as the first international newsroom to fully incorporate 360 degree interactive videos into its regular news production workflow — thanks to Google.

Technology giant Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) is funding Euronews’ pioneering production of multilingual 360 degree interactive videos about international current affairs for the next three years. Google’s Digital News Initiative (DNI) chose Euronews 360 as the latest of the 128 projects it has funded across Europe.

Euronews aired its pilot 360 degree video news early this week with an assessment of the recently concluded Euro 2016 cup. Shot at the top of Euronews’ headquarters in Lyon, France, the 360 degree video featured sports journalists commenting on the outcome of the 2016 UEFA European Championship. Viewers can position their smartphones to whatever angle they wish to view the 360 degree video, making it very interactive.

The pioneering 360 degree video coverage will kick off with Euronews’ production of “No Comment 360,” a program that allows audience to select the perspective they want in interpreting video news. However, Euronews will also use the digital innovation to produce daily news reports, which can be viewed on euronews.com, Youtube and Facebook.

Perfect fit

According to Duncan Hooper, editor in chief of digital platforms at Euronews, the 360 degree video coverage is a “perfect fit” to Euronews’ “All Views” branding.

“This project is a perfect fit for Euronews' ‘All Views’ positioning, embodying a mission that aims to live and share a unique and global experience of news, knowledge and cultures, expressed through a genuine diversity,” he said.

Hooper added that the 360 degree video news production method will give Euronews the power to view the story from their own perspectives.

“360° interactive reports immerse viewers to give them a greater sense of atmosphere. This sensory experience is also interactive -- unlike a conventional report, everyone can choose their point of view,” he pointed out.

“We wish to offer our audience this new capability in order to highlight all perspectives, so that everyone can forge their own opinion,” Hooper added.

To secure the long-term financial viability of Euronews’ 360 degree video news production, sales teams will include the Euronews 360 tool in their multi-platform campaign propositions to advertisers.

“Through our collaboration with the DNI we will be able to take advantage of the latest technological innovations, which now make it possible -- and relatively simple -- to harness virtual reality in the service of news and in your home,” Hooper said.

The DNI fund is a collaboration between Google and European news publishers to support high quality journalism and encourage a more sustainable news ecosystem through technology and innovation.

Meanwhile, Euronews is a multi-platform news organisation headquartered in Lyon, France, that broadcasts news in Arabic, English, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Persian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Turkish and Ukrainian. Euronews maintains news bureaus in Athens, Brussels, Budapest, Doha, Dubai, Istanbul, London, Paris and Washington D.C.