On World Press Freedom Day, here’s a quick lowdown on drone journalism interspersed with a brief history of aerial newsgathering and how drones are democratizing airborne reporting.
Drone journalism: getting an aerial perspective
Drones, also known as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS), have opened up new opportunities across a multitude of industries. And journalism is no different.
Drone journalism refers to the use of drones for newsgathering purposes. Drone photos and videos lend a unique aerial perspective to everyday news coverage, allowing journalists to make their reports more insightful and innovative.
A brief history of aerial newsgathering
The use of aerial videography in journalism is nothing new though. In 1958, a Los Angeles-based local TV station, KTLA, modified a Bell 47 – the iconic single rotor single-engine light helicopter – and outfitted it with broadcast equipment. And so was born the world’s first
