Teaching Drone Journalism: Ethical and Practical Considerations

As drones become increasingly popular in the journalism world, more and more journalists are looking to incorporate them into their work. But before you take off on your first drone journalism assignment, there are a number of ethical and practical considerations that you need to take into account.

Here’s a guide to some of the most important things to consider as you prepare to teach drone journalism.

The Practical Considerations: Get Your Gear Right

The first thing you need to do if you’re teaching drone journalism is make sure you have the right gear. You’ll need a drone, of course, but you’ll also need a good camera, a remote control, and a lot of batteries.

When it comes to buying a drone, you need to think about what kind of work you’ll be doing and what your budget is. If you’re just starting out, a DJI Mavic Air 2 or the new Mini 2 will do the job, but if you need something more specialized for your operations then the M300 RTK or DJI Inspire 2 is for you.

Also, if you don’t have experience flying drones, take the time to practice. Maneuvering a drone can be a challenge, and you don’t want to crash your expensive equipment on your first flight.

The Ethical Considerations: Privacy and Safety

As a responsible drone operator, it’s important to be aware of the privacy concerns that come along with drone journalism. Before you fly your drone, make sure you’re aware of the local regulations that are in place. Many areas have strict no-fly zones, and you don’t want to get in trouble for breaking the law. Drone journalism is built on the principles of transparency and accountability and you must not invade anyone’s privacy whilst doing so.

Also, you need to consider safety. Ensure you have done all the safety checks on your drones before sending them out on a mission. This includes checking the battery, making sure that it is fully charged and safely attached to your drone, double-checking the propellers and ensuring the environment is clear for takeoff.

The Fun Stuff: Getting Creative with Drones

Aside from flying your drone safely and ethically, there are a lot of creative ways to use your drone in journalism. You can use them for aerial footage, for example, giving your audience a bird’s eye view of a scene.

Or you can use them for “reveal” footage, starting with a wide shot and then zooming in to reveal a particular detail that you want to emphasize. Drones can also be used for hyperlapse videos which are sped-up videos that can take the audience on a journey of the world around them.

Teaching Drone Journalism Can Be a Rewarding Experience

Teaching drone journalism can be a rewarding experience. Not only do you get to share your expertise and passion with others, but you also get to help shape the future of the journalism industry.

By keeping these ethical and practical considerations in mind as you work, you’ll be able to create amazing stories with your drones and help others do the same. Remember to always fly safe and ethically and have fun in the process.