USA Today creates AR experience exploring Chicago underbelly to promote The City podcast
USA Today has created an augmented reality experience to draw the public’s attention to its new podcast The City.
The USA Today AR experience - The City
Having enlisted investigative journalists and public radio veterans to lead the long-form podcast, the AR experience will explore the power struggles happening on the streets of Chicago.
It can be accessed in the USA Today app from next week and will explore the underbelly of the 'Windy City'. This season it is focused on a story revolving around an illegal dump in a poor neighbourhood. It will highlight how the local government, mob and FBI all worked together to ensure the continued dumping of refuse. The illegal dump in question climbed to over six-stories and was a major disruption to those living in the low-income area.
On the editorial team the brand has assembled for The City, Liz Nelson, vice president of strategic content for the USA Today, said: “We’re thrilled to have assembled such a strong team coming from the worlds of public radio, podcasting, investigative reporting and long-form narrative.
“The expertise this team brings to The City meshes seamlessly with our ongoing mission to produce first-class journalism and compelling content on new digital platforms.”
The firm has shared a demo of the technology.
The podcast was created by Robin Amer, on the team is reporter Wilson Sayre, producer Jenny Casas, editor Sam Greenspan and more.
The experience will be available on 24 September.