Drone Journalism is something we’re experimenting with at the Meek School. This video of campus was shot on a DJI Phantom 2 in mid-April 2015. As the camera rises above the Overby Center, the ongoing construction of the new Honors College building is immediately visible. Panning around the the Grove and beyond, viewers can see the full scope of the campus skyline, including the football and baseball stadiums and the new partially-constructed basketball arena.
This type of aerial videography is the news-gathering tool of the future. Any broadcast outlet currently using helicopter footage will revel in the portability (and the price tag) of these machines. But not yet. Current FAA guidelines are limiting the use of drones in professional newsrooms, however those parameters appear to be headed toward change.
Once the floodgates open, journalists will be faced with a steep learning curve and some genuine ethical dilemmas where privacy and public safety are concerned. Having the opportunity to continue to explore these issues with our students is an important facet of the work going on at the Meek School.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PheD6rzfgr8&sns=em
