Wall Street Journal VR App Launches on Daydream

NEW YORK, Nov. 10, 2016 -- The Wall Street Journal today continues to experiment with mobile experiences through the launch of the WSJ VR app on Daydream, bringing immersive storytelling to a new level.

Wall Street Journal logo

Viewers will experience the Journal’s world-class journalism on Google’s Daydream platform, built to deliver high-quality, mobile virtual reality. They can step inside a virtual room specially designed for the app and stay informed with breaking news, follow the markets with a live markets data visualization and immerse themselves in compelling narratives with interactive 360-degree videos.

“We wanted to push the boundaries of what was possible with VR, while remaining faithful to what makes The Wall Street Journal truly distinctive: outstanding financial and business journalism,” said Himesh Patel, Creative Director, Dow Jones. “Our app brings to the forefront the daily drama of the markets, told with live data and 360-degree video."

INTERACTIVE STORYTELLING
The first interactive 360-degree video on the WSJ VR app tells the story of cyclist Denise Mueller who is seeking to become the fastest woman ever on a bicycle. The film follows her to the striking Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah to capture her land speed record attempt. The video takes viewers along for the ride in a way that only virtual reality can. The video player's features allow users to follow their own curiosity, whether it's seeing Mueller’s bespoke equipment up close or flying over the surreal landscape of the flats.

"We've produced interactive, virtual reality storytelling that allows the Journal’s reporters and editors to take readers and viewers of our journalism anywhere in the world," said Andy Regal, Global Head of Video, The Wall Street Journal. "With this new technology, we look forward to deepening our audience's connections to the people behind the most compelling stories across the globe."

Over the coming weeks, the WSJ VR app will feature new interactive 360-videos that take viewers behind the scenes to see multimillion dollar classic cars, the jungles of Colombia and the set of a hit primetime TV show. Each of these experiences will give viewers the ability to control the ways that they immerse themselves in the story.

VR TECHNOLOGY
Roger Kenny,‎ ‎Design Tech Lead, VR at Dow Jones, will oversee technology of the WSJ VR app. He is the company’s first employee dedicated solely to virtual reality and augmented reality platforms and was instrumental in the Journal’s launch into virtual reality last year with the award-winning 3D NASDAQ interactive. The interactive showcases a virtual reality guided tour of 21 years of the stock index. Since then, the Journal has also produced a series of 360-degree and virtual reality videos for the WSJ app on iOS and Android devices.

To bring The Wall Street Journal to life for Daydream users, the Journal partnered with Emblematic Group and Deep Inc.’s Liquid Cinema™ as well as London-based architecture practice Michaelis Boyd Associates for the environment.

The WSJ VR app is available for download from Google Play. Users will need Daydream View, the comfortable and easy-to-use virtual reality headset and controller, and any Daydream-ready phone, such as Pixel or Pixel XL from Google. For more information, visit https://vr.google.com/daydream/.

About The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal is a global news organization that provides leading news, information, commentary and analysis. Published by Dow Jones, The Wall Street Journal engages readers across print, digital, mobile, social, and video. Building on its heritage as the preeminent source of global business and financial news, the Journal includes coverage of U.S. & world news, politics, arts, culture, lifestyle, sports, and health. It holds 36 Pulitzer Prizes for outstanding journalism.

Contact:
Fiorelli Salvo
Director, Digital Communications
[email protected]