Four reasons your newsroom needs an FPV drone

“FPV” stands for First Person View, a reference to how pilots fly these drones. Rather than a pilot looking down at a screen, FPV pilots wear immersive goggles that give them the feeling they’re inside the drone, flying it like a tiny, on-board pilot.

Sony enters drone market seeking professional partners

Usually characterized by a shoulder-to-shoulder push to see the latest in drone technology on a sprawling exhibit floor in Las Vegas, the 2021 Consumer Electronics Show was an entirely different affair, held virtually and lacking the biggest name in drones — DJI. With the conference grounded by the COVID-19 pandemic, the effort this month wasn’t … Continued

New FAA rule is a huge boost for night news gathering by drone

Bundled with the FAA’s announcement Monday of the long-awaited rules on requiring remote ID from drones were two rule changes that will ease drone newsgathering for news organizations. Clearly the bigger of these was a drastic change in the way pilots will receive approval to fly at night. Under current rules, drone flights at night … Continued

Amazon’s win toward drone deliveries will benefit journalists

It’s not clear who was more excited about the announcement from the FAA Monday that the agency was granting approval to retail giant Amazon to operate as an air carrier with a fleet of drone delivery vehicles: online shopping addicts or drone nerds. The move by the FAA certifies Amazon Air — the company’s name … Continued

Stacey Woelfel is RJI’s new drone director

Stacey Woelfel, a professor at the Missouri School of Journalism and the director of the Jonathan B. Murray Center for Documentary Journalism, will be adding some new oversight duties to his portfolio as RJI’s new Director of Aerial Journalism. In this role, he’ll be overseeing the institute’s four-drone fleet, teaching a drone-flying class in the … Continued