Drone Journalism

Abstract

This entry considers the ambiguous notion of drone journalism by reviewing its various meanings and considering how drones are articulated in news media discourse and employed by newsrooms. Drones have seen increasing use by journalists as newsgathering tools. However, the emergence of drone journalism has not been accompanied by a solid set of procedures and conventions, nor is it a widely accepted subject in journalism education. Although the intersection of journalism and drones lies more on the periphery of journalism studies, theoretical and empirical explorations of drone journalism reveal regulatory and ethical complexities, the implications of drone imagery for journalism as a cultural practice, and the porous boundaries between witnessing and surveillance in negotiations on the social roles of drone journalists.

Post-Hype Uses of Drones in News Reporting: Revealing the Site and Presenting Scope

“…An important part of the initial phase is the existence of enthusiastic media coverage of the new technology. In the case of drone journalism, the contrast between how the media has covered drones as a news item and how they are actually employing drones in newsrooms has been observed (Vobič, 2020).…”