GMG becomes one of the first UK news media publishers to invest in VR.

The VR team will consist of five editorial staff, led by Francesca Panetta as executive director of virtual reality.

Adam Foley will take on the role of commercial strategy director, focusing on advertiser relationships.

The Guardian said in a statement: “The new team demonstrates an ongoing commitment to digital innovation in journalism and working with emerging technologies to create immersive and impactful storytelling.”

Panetta added: “Virtual reality and interactive content offer an extra dimension to storytelling in journalism and we’re thrilled to have been able to create a team that is truly dedicated to projects of this nature.

“The reaction from our audiences to 6×9 – our first virtual reality project – was fantastic, and we look forward to being able to bring them closer to our journalism through the medium of virtual reality over the coming months and years.”

Foley added: “Now that the Guardian has an in-house virtual reality team we’re excited to be able to work with brands to harness this new technology, not only to support some of the exciting projects that we have coming up but also to explore the new possibilities it provides.

“As more people gain access to virtual reality, it becomes more important for media owners and advertisers to invest in their own presence on the platform and bring their brand to life.”