Trees (Round 3)
Summary
Trees by VPRO is a web-based, mobile-first storyspace where investigative journalism crystallizes in the form of a serialized, narrative audio story. In each cycle, it focuses on a specific topic. Trees is an agile format, in which journalists will explore, research, share, listen and be in close contact with those formerly known as the audience. With an interactive open audio format, users become critical participants of the process, hence providing a sense of ownership and responsibility that creates a bond between them and the journalist.
The solution
We see two major problems within the ecosystem of investigative journalism. First, a very tangible decline in trust amongst media users. And second, a decline in resonance amongst a younger audience. Not objectivity, but transparency and independence are vital for journalism to be credible in the 21st century. By deconstructing the traditional longform audio episodes into smaller particles, Trees opens up the process and allows users to participate within the story as it develops. By opening up our journalistic process and combining it with active user engagement, we believe that Trees can repair this trust. Because Trees stories will be mobile and audio first, they are much better suited to the flexible way this audience uses media.