Flying robot ‘excites’ journalists at the Global media Forum
View(s):Mathew Waite waits for his audience as they troop and find places to sit inside the former parliamentary chamber in the city of Bonn.
After a few introductory remarks, he picks up a miniature plane fitted with a camera, saying “I have permission to only allow the plane to go up and down (not forwards or backwards).” The contraption with blades swirling rises up with a ‘whirring’ sound and is then guided down by a remote in Waite hands. That was our introduction to drone journalism by Waite, Professor of Drone Journalism at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in the US.
Drone journalism is a growing field. The US-based Professional Society of Drone Journalists established in 2011 is the first international organization dedicated to establishing the ethical, educational and technological framework for the emerging field of drone journalism. The association says it develops small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for journalists, and explores best practices to deploy them for a variety of reporting needs, including investigative, disaster, weather, sports, and environmental journalism. “I had to ensure the US government that I was not bringing military secrets with me,” Prof.
Waite says amused, while explaining the tedious paper work involved when carrying his drone across borders and in passenger aircraft. “30 per cent of the time when I travel with a drone I am pulled out of the line by security men at airports.” His UAV can fly for 35 minutes and carries a simple camera which takes pictures. Its cost: just US$1,500. He gave a detailed explanation of drone journalism, the benefits, pitfalls and issues to look out for. Here are excerpts from his presentation:
“For a journalist to be able to get a camera even 15 metres in the air, really helps when covering an event. These are flying robots. We are talking about a time in journalism when journalists would be carrying a flying robot in their backpack. On the flipside it can be potentially dangerous. The rapidly spinning blades can be dangerous (and could injure people if not properly used). “I tell my students that this (using UAVs) is a terrible idea and we should not be doing this. Even though I teach drone journalism, often I express cautiousness in the use of drones.
If it’s for private citizen, it’s not an issue but the problems come when it’s used for a public purpose. “This is because we are talking of rapidly spinning blades and if it falls on a crowd, people could get injured. Globally we have yet to figure out flying laws, privacy laws and the dangers associated with using these for coverages. “On the other hand drones have arrived. Brazil has said its wants a drone industry. Many nations keen on using drones have however not figured out how privacy laws would be affected.
“When we started the course on drone journalism and applied for a licence to the aviation agency I was told I should become a commercial operator and get a commercial pilot’s licence. It was so complicated. Now I have a pilot’s licence but its sound funny to fly a drone that weighs just three pounds. “As this is a new area, rules in the US are being made up as we go along as there are no regulations dealing with drones. The authorities have defined my drone as an aircraft just like the Delta plane!!! As an aircraft I have to get an airworthiness certificate.
How do I get into the pilot’s chair of this aircraft? “There are three news organisations in the US that has gone through the laborious process of getting a licence to operate a drone. The US in the meantime is to present its own drone rules. “Operating a drone is very complicated as you have to follow rules for all planes. For example air traffic control has to be informed if you fly near an airport. “Very soon drone journalism will be a possibility. We can cover natural disasters better or have great pictures from above of, soccer fights.
But what I am worried about is in covering real stories – murders, tragedy, — the psychology of noise and what impact it would have on tragedies.
“For drone journalism to become a reality we need to rewrite our privacy laws, property laws and codes of journalism. “The drone is like a smartphone. This is a flying smartphone. It has its use, it has its place. It’s a tool and should be considered in the context of helping a journalist not REPLACING ONE. It is just a tool (like a camera or other equipment).”