Welcome back to the Digital Doha Podcast, our new series bringing you informative conversations with local experts exploring the cutting-edge of emerging media happening in the dynamic international capital of Doha. Hosted by Spencer Striker, PhD Digital Media prof at Northwestern Qatar, and co-hosted by Natasha Das, Media Info & Tech student at NU-Q.

Presenting our amazing fifth guest of the season, pioneering VR journalist, Julia Leeb. Julia was born in Munich, Germany. She studied international relations and diplomacy in Madrid, Arabic in Alexandria, and television and digital media in Munich. She works as a war photojournalist and filmmaker, and is the author of North Korea: Anonymous Country. Leeb's long-term projects have been published internationally and document political upheaval in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Syria, Libya, Afghanistan, South Sudan and Iran. She also produces virtual reality and 360-degree content about remote regions like Transnistria, in Moldova, and the Nuba Mountains, in Sudan.

Julia Leeb is one of the first German journalists to use 360°/VR to document life in crisis areas. Her 360°/VR movies have been screened at VR film festivals around the world. Click the button below to learn more about her work. Using Virtual Reality, among other mediums, Julia brings viewers into a moment to witness conflict and the impacts of political unrest.We hope you enjoy our conversation with one of Doha’s leading innovators in the cutting-edge space of emerging media, immersive journalism, and AR/VR Design.

Hosted by: Spencer Striker, PhD

Co-hosted by: Natasha Das

Special Guest: Julia Leeb

Producer: Shaikha Alkubaisi

Sound Design & Editing: Ayah Mohamedain

Social Media Manager: Samson Mbogo

Project Management: Laiba Mubashar

Emerging Media Research Team: Venus Jin, PhD; Greg Bergida, PhD; John Pavlik, PhD, Justin Gengler, PhD; Farina Amir; and Christopher Fwalanga

Artwork: Fernanda Jimenez

Music and Sound Effects: Courtesy of Epidemic Music

Official links for Special Guest, Julia Leebhttp://www.julialeeb.com/ https://www.amazon.de/Julia-Leeb/e/B00LPCT9LI/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1

Official website and social media links for the Digital Doha Podcasthttps://www.qatarpodcasts.com/digital-dohahttps://www.facebook.com/DigitalDohahttps://www.instagram.com/digitaldohahttps://twitter.com/doha_digital