Drone Journalism

March 18, 2014

A story brimming with video footage may just demonstrate the future of journalism. BuzzFeed shares, “This Amazing Footage Shows Why Drone Journalism is About to Go Mainstream.” (The videos are all active as soon as you land on the page, so beware of that if you have a slow connection.)

Writer Jim Waterson discusses the reasons he expects the use of unmanned aerial vehicles by news organizations to boom in the near future, illustrating each point with at least one drone-captured video clip. Foremost, of course, is the ability to take shots one couldn’t get from the ground, either because of hazardous conditions or because an aerial vantage point is desired. The write-up also notes that drones are good for time-lapse footage; the example shows an approaching storm. Another angle, so to speak: news organizations are learning that drone videos, which look very different from traditional footage, catch the eye and, perhaps, more viewers.

There are some legal issues reporters must be aware of. In Waterson’s home nation, the U.K., drones are not allowed to fly over crowds. Also, journalists must obtain qualifications from the Civil Aviation Authority before they can be legally paid for such footage.

What about cost? Photographer Lewis Whyld has been at the fore of British drone journalism. The article shares his take on getting started with drone tech:

“Whyld says a self-build drone suitable for journalism could cost ‘below a thousand pounds [about $1,670 USD], plus about £350 [about $585] to stick a GoPro camera on the front of it’ – news that will please media organisations that are short of funds. But he says there’s two approaches to making drones: ‘The BBC has quite a big budget with three of these machines and I’m just building stuff in my front room. People that don’t know what they’re doing are drawn into spending lots of money. You can get a Hollywood-standard system by buying cheaper equipment and building it up and knowing the components. Otherwise you can spend thousands and thousands – and if you crash it’s all gone.’ Basic drones for beginners – described as ‘toys’ by Whyld – cost as little as £250 [about $420].”

On top of that, of course, is the cost of those Aviation certification exams—around £1,500 (about $2,500) for one person. Whyld estimates that getting one drone journalist up and running costs over £10,000 (about $16,730). That’s a significant investment, but, according to this article, the results are well worth the cost if one does it right.

Cynthia Murrell, March 18, 2014

Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Augmentext

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