News outlets now willing to try drone Journalism

World Today

Camera-equipped drones are on the verge of becoming mainstream as the technology becomes more readily available.

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration is reviewing rules regarding commercial use of drones and expects to issue new policies soon, but there are no plans to allow journalists free reign in the skies. They say issues of safety as well as privacy make drone use by journalists too difficult to regulate.

Last year, the FAA fined an amateur drone operator $10,000 for shooting this footage on a college campus. A judge later dismissed the fine, but the FAA says they won’t hesitate to go after anyone using drones for commercial purposes.

In the meantime, news outlets are bending the rules, buying drone footage from third parties. CCTV’s Jim Spellman takes a look at how drones could give journalists high-flying cameras, once reserved for government agencies.

News outlets now willing to try drone Journalism

Camera-equipped drones are on the verge of becoming mainstream as the technology becomes more readily available. Now there's a growing debate about how they should be used in journalism. CCTV's Jim Spellman takes a look at how drones could give journalists high-flying cameras, once reserved for government agencies.