Will the new generation of journalists live in an era of drone journalism?
Drones. They come in all sizes and prices. They come as toys for eager children or as killing machines for the military. They come indie-styled from DIY enthusiasts or at the ready from specialised companies. They are, in short, coming. But are they coming for journalists too? Will the new generation of journalists live in an era of drone journalism?
Drones are unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV). Depending on the model, drones can be controlled remotely or they may be autonomous, buzzing across the skies, directed by GPS. With the relentless advancement in technology, drones are becoming increasingly sophisticated and are now fitted with cameras and numerous sensors. They are so powerful in fact that people have rapidly found ingenious ways to put them to full use. Drones are used to monitor across vast expanses of land such as agricultural farms and wildlife reserves. The police uses drones for reconnaissance missions or for border security. Even Hollywood covertly makes use of drones in its evergreen quest for more jaw-dropping and immersive scenes.
The benefits for journalists are evident too, especially for those who are in the field, like many science journalists. Journalists can use drones to report on disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes and wildfires. Having an above-the-ground view may give journalists a better perspective of the extent of a disaster. By making use of sensors attached to drones, journalists can measure numerous parameters such as radiation levels in inaccessible areas. An environment journalist may also be keen to use drones to collect specimen such as polluted water samples while an exploring nature journalist can use them as communication relays so that they can touch base when reporting from remote areas.
Drone journalism appears to make so much sense that two universities in the US have already incorporated drone use in their journalism programs. The Drone Journalism Lab at the University of Nebraska and the Missouri Drone Journalism Program at the University of Missouri both teach journalism students how to make the most of what drones have to offer when reporting a story. They also teach students how to fly drones, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations and ethics.
But does drone journalism really have a future? Currently, practically no one uses drones for journalism in the US. This is because the FAA determined that drone flying for commercial purposes (journalism is considered a commercial purpose) is illegal. Drones, unfortunately, are also getting a pretty bad reputation. Their reported use by the US military have caused an estimated 3,000 casualties, including civilians, in countries such as Yemen, Somalia and Pakistan. And apparently, drones are central in the targeted killing campaign waged by the US in those countries.
Closer to home, important ethical questions have been raised about the use of drones. While the vantage view that drones provide may be a definite advantage in many scenarios, it can also easily be abused, for example by invading people’s privacy. And many people are concerned about this. State Representative Casey Guernsey opposes drone journalism and is quoted by the Gateway Journalism Review as saying: “If we are moving into an age of news agencies using drones to collect information on private citizens, I’m definitely concerned about that.” There is also a safety issue since the possibility that drones collide with other drones, helicopters or even planes, while small, still exists.
The Latest Bing News on:
Drone Journalism
- Keller family uses 20,000 lights, 400 drones for a Christmas display. Now they’re on TVon December 1, 2023 at 2:48 pm
Ward is planning to run the same light and drone show seen on the show next weekend at his home in Keller. Next week Ward said he will release more details on the show and where to go via his social ...
- Pentagon plans a drone army to counter China’s market dominanceon December 1, 2023 at 1:00 pm
The war in Ukraine has shown the value of low-cost drone swarms in modern warfare. Now the Pentagon is planning to build an army of thousands of small, cheap drones in hopes of spurring U.S. drone ...
- Ukraine says one killed as Russia launched 25 drones overnighton December 1, 2023 at 8:15 am
Russia launched 25 drone attacks on Ukraine overnight, killing one person and damaging a warehouse and farm equipment, the Ukrainian military said on Friday, adding that it had downed ...
- Drone images show demolition of regional daily’s former homeon November 30, 2023 at 11:21 pm
Images of the iconic former home of a regional daily title have been published showing the building all-but demolished. The Portsmouth News printed a special double-page image of its old HQ after ...
- IIT Guwahati launches drone technology training for armed forces officerson November 30, 2023 at 9:16 pm
Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati (IIT-G), has initiated a three-month training programme on drone technology for Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs) and other officers to modernise the ...
- Drones capture cool images of the Ottawa Valleyon November 30, 2023 at 7:03 am
Once a commercial pilot, always a commercial pilot – that’s Les Dalzell, who knows a thing or two about drones. It's that capability and passion for the outdoors that has propelled the former ...
- US Navy warship shoots down a drone launched by Houthis from Yemenon November 29, 2023 at 4:47 pm
A U.S. Navy warship sailing near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait shot down a drone launched from Yemen on Wednesday, the U.S. military said, in the latest in a string of threats from ...
- Drone photography captures cool images of the Ottawa Valleyon November 29, 2023 at 3:59 pm
Douglas -- Once a commercial pilot, always a commercial pilot – that’s Les Dalzell, who knows a thing or two about drones. It's that capability and passion for the outdoors that has propelled the ...
- Drones to be Provided to Women Self Help Groups as Cabinet Approves Central Sector Schemeon November 29, 2023 at 2:55 am
The Union Cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved Rs. 1261 Crore scheme to provide drones to 15,000 Women Self Help Groups for offering agricultural drone services, empowering women ...
- Hurry! Get these Cyber Monday DJI drone deals (or this Potensic) before they fly off the shelveson November 27, 2023 at 12:35 pm
DJI is the industry-leading drone maker, but just before the Black Friday / Cyber Monday deals event, we reviewed a brilliant low-cost drone that finally gives beginner pilots a proper alternative to ...
The Latest Google Headlines on:
Drone Journalism
[google_news title=”” keyword=”Drone Journalism” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
[/vc_column_text]
The Latest Bing News on:
Unmanned aerial vehicles
- Russia appears to be putting jamming tech on its tanks as exploding drones chase down its vehicles to deadly effecton December 1, 2023 at 1:43 pm
Photos show the jammers Russia is apparently attaching to its tanks and vehicles as both sides of the war try to counter the massive threat of drones.
- Unmanned systems begin to dominate military operations in Gulfon December 1, 2023 at 6:44 am
Recent events underscore how military operators are beginning to increasingly test and deploy unmanned systems in the Gulf.
- Russia’s command post vehicle destroyed by HIMARS in southern Ukraineon November 30, 2023 at 7:38 pm
Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces have adjusted HIMARS fire on a Russian command post vehicle in the southern direction. — Ukrinform.
- The Russians Are Bolting DIY Drone-Jammers Onto Their Vehicles. The Ukrainians Are Blowing Them Up ... With Drones.on November 29, 2023 at 5:08 pm
The Russians are terrified of Ukraine's first-person-view drones. They're trying everything to ground and deflect the explosive drones. But not every improvisation works.
- Ukrainian Special Forces annihilates enemy command vehicle in precision strike – videoon November 29, 2023 at 9:24 am
Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces (SOF) targeted and destroyed an enemy command and control vehicle near the southern front, the SOF reported on Telegram on Nov. 29.
- The IAI Heron unmanned aerial vehicle (UAS)on November 22, 2023 at 6:01 am
In the ever-evolving landscape of warfare, Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), more commonly known as drones, have emerged as crucial assets, with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) occupying a significant ...
- Russia's advice to troops dealing with exploding drones is to weld cages on any vehicles they canon November 20, 2023 at 1:52 pm
Illustrations from Russia's defense ministry teach troops how to weld cages onto their tanks and vehicles to protect from exploding drones.
The Latest Google Headlines on:
Unmanned aerial vehicles
[google_news title=”” keyword=”unmanned aerial vehicles” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]