A recent WRAL-TV story brought together the best of virtual design and reporting to explain an important concept surrounding the opioid epidemic. WRAL-TV Health Reporter Grace Hayba and WRAL-TV Visual Design Director Shan Zhong worked together to create a compelling and informative piece about how Naloxone - or Narcan - works to combat an overdose of fentanyl.
It was a great collaboration between Grace Hayba, our health reporter, and Shan Zhong, our AR/VR artist with creative services, said WRAL-TV Enterprise Executive Producer Ashley Talley. It was definitely a different way to tell a whole story. We use the animations lovingly called Shanimations' in various stories, but this was unique in that nearly the whole thing was done in that form.
Augmented Storytelling, Enhanced Understanding
Passionate about the work she has been given, Hayba considered how to tackle a key topic.
From the time I started here, it quickly became evident opioid coverage would be a big part of my beat as the health reporter, explained Hayba. I began brainstorming ideas with Ashley Talley about how to talk about overdoses in a new way, going beyond just the statistics. We decided to hone in on fentanyl due to its deadly grasp on the state.
Hayba continued, Ashley first suggested finding a way to visualize what happens inside the human body during an overdose. When researching the science behind it all, I realized I wanted to also include the life-saving medication naloxone in the piece. We have repeatedly told viewers that it helps save lives, but we haven't truly explained how.
Then Zhong entered the picture. He has used his expertise in design on countless stories over the years.
Since 2019, I started working with news and weather to create immersive mixed reality (newsroom calls it AR augmented reality), explained Zhong. I do AR standups, packages, and weather explainers for stories that need enhanced graphics to better explain the topics. Grace's story was one of them.
Opioid use, especially those which are illegally manufactured, is an epidemic the entire country is battling. The state reports from 2000-2022 alone, over 36,000 North Carolinians died from overdoses. When I read that statistic, I don't just see numbers, but rather the thousands of mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers and friends lost. I thought it was important to remind people how an amount so small you can't even see can kill you. We have recently reported on more harm reduction efforts aimed at increasing the supply of naloxone, including in Wake County Schools, so I wanted to ensure we incorporated a solution to the problem as well.
WRAL-TV Health Reporter Grace Hayba Zhong's augmented reality design and Hayba's narration came together to show as well as tell viewers.
The beauty of having Shan on our team is that it gives WRAL the ability to tell stories in ways others can't, Hayba told CapCom. In writing the script, I felt the natural story arc was to begin with someone who first takes fentanyl, begins to overdose, and is then revived using naloxone.
After talking through the concept with Hayba, Zhong got to work.
In general, after going over the script with producers, I'll create visual storyboards to plan out how anchors, reporters, and meteorologists interact with virtual graphics elements, he said. Then we do video shoots based on the storyboards, and finally complete the postproduction process.
WRAL-TV Health Reporter Grace Hayba (left) in the AR/VR studio with WRAL-TV Visual Design Director Shan Zhong, working together to produce a story about naxolone.
He spent many hours creating the AR, and then the duo went into the studio to bring it to life.
Shan made it really easy! Hayba told CapCom. This was my first time working on a VR project, so I wasn't quite sure what to expect but he directed me through every shot and motion.
The team shot Hayba in the AR studio over a green screen. Then the package was completed in post by compositing video and graphics.
The reason I think Shan was able to knock this out of the park was entirely in his approach, said Hayba. He first met with me to go over my script and hear what my ideas were so that he could understand what the science was that I wanted to visualize. He then created a storyboard with sketches to walk me through how he planned to shrink my body inside the brain and move throughout the vital organs as they shut down. We did a few takes with varying arm motions to make sure nothing would be cut off when I was pointing at the naloxone or organs.
WRAL-TV Visual Design Director Shan Zhong created graphics in augmented reality to help tell a story by WRAL-TV Health Reporter Grace Hayba about naloxone and how it fights a fentanyl overdose.
Hayba greatly appreciated the others on the WRAL crew who helped make the story happen.
I also want to give a huge thank you to WRAL-TV News Production Manager James Ford and WRAL-TV Streaming Editor/Producer Khadejah Durant for helping coordinate the camera, lighting, audio and prompter! she said. It was really a team effort.
And Hayba is grateful to have Zhong on the team to further the important story she wanted to share.
I truly admire how he can take an idea in someone's head and turn it into an engaging visualization that is even better than you imagined, Hayba told CapCom. Storytelling nowadays relies so much on keeping viewers connected and engaged with the piece. When you have a world of content at your fingertips, showcasing your story in new ways has become more important than ever. Shan's work absolutely accomplishes that and then some! His creativity is incredible, and I can't wait to work with him further in the future!
WRAL-TV s Grace Hayba (center) in the AR/VR studio with WRAL-TV's Shan Zhong (right) and WRAL-T
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
04/08/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
04/07/2026
April 7 2026, 19:00 (PDT) Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway Opens in...
01/06/2026
January 6 2026, 05:30 (PST) Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026
Throughout the week, Dolby brings to life the latest innovatio...
13/05/2026
New Adobe Premiere Color Grading Mode Accelerated on NVIDIA GPUs
Joel Pennington May 13, 2026
0 Comments
New NVIDIA RTX-accelerated features streamlin...
13/05/2026
Grass Valley announced that dB Broadcast has delivered new IP-based outside broadcast (OB) trucks for Cloudbass, featuring Grass Valley LDX 100 Series cameras a...
13/05/2026
Ikegami will exhibit the latest additions to its wide range of broadcast production cameras, control units, viewfinders and monitors on stand 5D3-1 at Broadcast...
13/05/2026
FISE, working with the founding members of the XR Sports Alliance (XRSA), Accedo, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and HBS, have collaborated to develop an immersive...
13/05/2026
Canon Unveils New EOS R6 V Full-Frame EOS Camera and RF20-50mm F4 L IS USM PZ Bu...
13/05/2026
Boston Conservatory at Berklee Honors Beth Morrison and Moses Pendleton at Comme...
13/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
13/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
13/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
13/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
13/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
13/05/2026
Creative software developer Foundry today announced the latest developments on Nuke Stage. A purpose-built application for end-to-end virtual production and in-...
13/05/2026
A definitive portrait of one of Ireland's most influential musicians
New TV documentary airs Monday 18 May on RT One and RT Player at 9.35pm
Watch the...
13/05/2026
Agentic AI is changing the way users get work done. Following the success of OpenClaw, the community is embracing new open source agentic frameworks. The latest...
13/05/2026
Reinforcement-learning agents - AI systems that learn by trial and error - can c...
12/05/2026
Beyond the Hype: A Strategic Post-Hoc Analysis of NAB 2026 If NAB Show 2026 had an underlying theme, it was a quiet, industry-wide pivot from the high-energy sp...
12/05/2026
Guntermann and Drunck (G&D), a Panoptec Technologies Group company, and CT Square, led by Chandresh Shah, have announced a joint venture to distribute G&D and V...
12/05/2026
With 30 days until the start of the FIFA World Cup 2026, Telemundo, the exclusive Spanish-language home of the tournament in the United States, has announced th...
12/05/2026
The NHL has announced the return of Stanley Pup for its third consecutive year, a 90-minute special featuring adoptable rescue dogs competing on a miniature rin...
12/05/2026
NBCUniversal presented its 2026 Upfront to advertisers at Radio City Music Hall, detailing upcoming programming across NBC, Peacock, Bravo, and Versant properti...
12/05/2026
FOX Sports has announced funding for the Fandom and Social Connection Initiative at Harvard Kennedy School's Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics, and Publ...
12/05/2026
TNDV and Live Media, both divisions of Live Media Group, supported live broadcast coverage around NCAA Final Four weekend in Indianapolis, including the March M...
12/05/2026
The European Football Alliance (EFA) has announced a content distribution agreement with Fubo Sports Network, the free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) channel ...
12/05/2026
For the first time, Spanish-speaking fans in the U.S. will have two separate tel...
12/05/2026
CP Communications led a comprehensive spectrum management initiative on behalf of Churchill Downs during Kentucky Derby week, coordinating RF assets across the ...
12/05/2026
LiveU has announced a strategic partnership with DRONERESPONDERS, a 501(c)3 non-...
12/05/2026
Open Broadcast Systems has announced that BMC TV, a specialist in IP transport of broadcast content, has selected the Open Broadcast Systems 5G Flyaway solution...
12/05/2026
NEP Europe, part of NEP Group, has announced it will deliver broadcast solutions...
12/05/2026
Grass Valley has announced continued collaboration with Ravensbourne University ...
12/05/2026
Stats Perform has announced the launch of Opta Pulse, an AI-assisted video creation and distribution platform for leagues, rights holders, and broadcasters. The...
12/05/2026
FOX Sports has announced a collaboration with Sesame Workshop to integrate Sesame Street characters into FOX Sports' FIFA World Cup 2026 programming. Conten...
12/05/2026
To date, NHL Productions has produced 19 broadcasts with commentary in American Sign Language
NHL in ASL (American Sign Language) may be just one show, but the...
12/05/2026
Google's Brian Albert: creators, athletes, highlights, nostalgia, second-scr...
12/05/2026
A still from Past Lives by Celine Song, an official selection of the Premieres program at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. (Courtesy of Sundance Institute | p...
12/05/2026
Spotify is where fans and artists come together, turning discovery into somethin...
12/05/2026
Features patented Marco-MMC clocking technology
Black Lion Audio's latest release combines the company's expertise in clocking with their renowned p...
12/05/2026
New Track Panel, sequencer upgrades & more
Following their recent public beta release, Reason Studios have announced the full release of Reason 14. With the...
12/05/2026
One month to go! SBS reveals expansive FIFA World Cup 2026 lineup beyond the pi...
12/05/2026
Rohde & Schwarz presents its advanced solutions for power electronics testing at...
12/05/2026
aconnic AG (ISIN: DE000A0LBKW6), Munich, has developed a modified fund raising p...
12/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/05/2026
Tyrell Corporation, specialists in high-end live sports and entertainment broadcasts, was tasked with delivering compelling broadcast coverage of premier equest...
12/05/2026
Registration is now open for IBC2026 as the global media, entertainment and technology community prepares to converge on the RAI Amsterdam from 11 14 September ...
12/05/2026
Ross Video, a global leader in live video production technology, will present its latest innovations and integrated production workflows at BroadcastAsia 2026, ...
12/05/2026
500 selected leaders from around the world across start-ups, corporates, and venture capital. Over 50bn in assets under management among attending investors, a...
A recent WRAL-TV story brought together the best of virtual design and reporting to explain an important concept surrounding the opioid epidemic. WRAL-TV Health Reporter Grace Hayba and WRAL-TV Visual Design Director Shan Zhong worked together to create a compelling and informative piece about how Naloxone - or Narcan - works to combat an overdose of fentanyl.
