Why don't more journalists and documentary makers use spatial audio? Barriers to sonic experimentation in contemporary radio and podcast production cultures.

This article examines the limited use of spatial, immersive, or three-dimensional (3D) sound in factual radio and podcast production, despite its potential to enhance listener immersion and realism. Based on five years of international research with journalists, sound engineers, and producers, it identifies key barriers to adoption including professional cultures prioritizing speed and information over production values, prevalent lone working that limits collaboration and skill-sharing, and deadline-driven workflows that discourage experimentation. The article also highlights historical and organizational factors, such as underinvestment in equipment and training, departmental separations between news and documentary teams, and the challenges posed by existing production practices. Ultimately, the study situates the underuse of spatial audio within broader structural issues affecting audio journalism and documentary-making, suggesting that addressing these cultural and institutional constraints is essential for expanding creative audio storytelling.