Benefits of Drone Technology in Media and Communication

Drone technology is transforming the media and communication industry very quickly. Any media station keen to embrace state-of-the-art technology in their operations has either invested in top-notch drones or is in the process of doing so.

While drones have positively impacted many different industries, their influence is even more powerful in the media industry.

This article explores the benefits of drone technology in media and communication and any concerns about drone implementation in media and communication.

If you want to invest in drones for your media and communication operations but you are still determining whether or not that is a good idea, read on to understand why drones have the potential to take your journalism to the next level.

1. Allows effective coverage in unfriendly environments #

Every journalist wants to bring untold and unique stories to their audience. Covering and reporting in conflict zones or areas overwhelmed by environmental disasters can be challenging due to obvious safety issues.

The need for journalists to access hard-to-reach places is one major reason for drone journalism. With the help of remotely piloted technology, journalists can take aerial footage without putting their lives at risk.

Furthermore, drones are small, meaning they can easily maneuver their way to access spaces that even a helicopter cannot.

2. Standing out from the crowd #

Unlike in the past, when journalism was limited to reputable media houses, nowadays, anyone can become a journalist with the help of social media platforms.

For this reason, professional journalists need to stand out from the rest; one way to accomplish this is by embracing drone technology.

Drone technology makes taking aerial pictures and videos easy. Hence, you can give your audience a different perspective on the event you are covering.

As long as you have the right drones, you will be able to create stunning content for your audience.

3. Drone technology offers a wonderful way to tell your story #

What will professional aerial footage taken with incredible precision do if an ordinary picture speaks a thousand words?

Regardless of the intensity of the story you want to tell your audience, a drone will make it easy for you to tell your story remarkably.

With the excellent capabilities of modern drones, you can easily connect with your audience and win their trust in the long run.

4. Improved production times #

Another remarkable benefit that comes with the use of drones in journalism is the fact that it has an incredible capability to improve production times.

Drones are fast, and with their capability to access hard-to-reach places, they shorten the time for production.

A cut in production time means a reduction in the cost of production. Therefore, if you want to reduce the production cost for your business, incorporating drones could be the solution.

However, for drones to improve production times effectively, the operator needs to be highly skilled with all the necessary requirements to operate a drone.

Flying a drone without adhering to set rules and regulations can be costly.

5. Flexibility #

Drones are small and lightweight, meaning they can perfectly fit in tricky places. Again, they are remotely controlled, so you can avoid squeezing yourself into crowded places to capture the defining moments.

Besides the fact that drones allow you to reach hard-to-reach places fast, they also give you enough time to concentrate on the footage.

You do not have to strain in finding the best position that will allow you to capture the right footage for your audience.

6. Excellent for capturing the big picture #

Journalists need drone technology to capture the big picture. Aerial filming makes it easy to capture big sites, such as the footage of a construction site, large structures, and mammoth crowds.

With the right drone and expertise, you should be able to get accurate details, even if you are dealing with huge structures.

Further, top-notch drones can shoot from complex angles that a photographer with a regular camera will have a hard time accomplishing. In other words, drones open more possibilities for journalists.

For instance, they are small enough to get close to areas that are impossible for an ordinary photographer to access.

7. Cost-effective #

Before drone technology found its way to media and communication, producing aerial footage required a complex and expensive process that entailed hiring a helicopter and a pilot.

Despite the costly nature of such a venture, helicopters could not access some areas.

Drone technology has eliminated the need for helicopters to produce aerial footage. Ordinary drones can create impeccable aerial footage for media outlets and even for marketing purposes.

Moreover, they are fast and efficient, making them more cost-effective than conventional methods.

Challenges of drone technology in journalism #

Although drones have brought a transformative change to mass media and communication, their implementation faces numerous obstacles.

The challenges range from regulatory and technical issues to the journalists’ security.

Regulatory issues #

One of the common challenges of incorporating drone technology in journalism revolves around regulations.

Before journalists exploit the benefits of drones in their day-to-day activities, they need to ensure they have a comprehensive understanding of aviation rules.

Operating a drone without adhering to the rules set by the relevant aviation regulators may result in disastrous situations.

For instance, flying a drone into an aircraft can result in the loss of lives.

It is important that before journalists venture into using drones for their operations, they should take time to study the rules and regulations governing the operations of drones.

Even though rules governing the use of drones in the US may not be the same as the ones in the UK or other countries, the internet has almost every bit of information to help you overcome such challenges.

» MORE: FAA Part 107 for Commercial Drone Pilots (Step-by-Step Guide)

Privacy issues #

Drone operators need to respect the privacy of other people. As a journalist, you need to bear in mind several legal issues when operating your drone for journalism.

For instance, you need to know how close you can get to people when taking photos and videos.

Personal privacy is another issue anyone investing in drone technology must examine closely. People have the right to privacy. Therefore, when operating a drone, journalists should ensure that they do not violate such rights.

Technical issues #

Many journalists who embrace drone technology for their operations need to take the time to understand the technical aspect of drone operations. A slight technical glitch can impair the entire function.

The best way to avoid technical issues when using drones for media and communication is to study the technical aspect of the drone before taking it to the fields.

Without enough technological know-how, journalists are less likely to find themselves in a situation where they lose focus on their news-gathering tasks.

Furthermore, failing to have the right technological know-how about drones can lead to poor footage.

As a newsperson, you must ensure that you are well-acquainted with all the technical aspects of operating your drone for journalistic purposes.

Reputational issues #

The use of drones can also put the media’s reputation in a compromising situation. The status of the media house using drones may get tarnished through perception.

For instance, if a drone gets damaged during live coverage of a news event, the perception of the media house is likely to be negative.

To safeguard against reputation issues, journalists should invest in quality drones. Further, they should take time to familiarize themselves with the technical aspect of using a drone.

What is the best drone for media and communication? #

To reap the benefits of drone technology in media and communication, you should invest in high-quality drones.

With a plethora of drones to choose from, finding the best drone for photography and videography may be more challenging than you think.

The trick to finding a gratifying drone for media and communication is to turn your focus to image quality and obstacle avoidance.

Image quality is significant in the sense that it will determine the quality of your footage.

On the other hand, obstacle avoidance will not only help ensure that you do not damage your drone but also give you the ability to focus on photography rather than piloting the drone.

Here are the top 5 drones to check out.

1. DJI Air 2S #

The DJI Air 2 S is a perfect package that combines stunning features such as long battery life, a top-notch quality camera capable of 5.4K video, and ease of flight capabilities to make your shooting straightforward.

Further, the DJI Air 2 S can sense and avoid obstacles that can cause unwarranted inconveniences.

Again, it can steadily hold its position so that you can focus on specific objects until you get the footage that fits your purpose and objective.

The drone is powerful enough to fly smoothly even in winds up to 23.9 mph. In other words, once you have the DJI Air 2 S, you can focus on taking quality and transformative footage.

The DJI Air 2 S also features smart flight modes like an active track that allows the drone to follow the target object autonomously.

2. Autel Robotics Evo Lite+ #

While DJI is one of the best manufacturers of quality drones worldwide, it may not appeal to everyone for personal reasons or just because of taste and preference.

If you are one of such individuals, then the Autel Robotics Evo Lite+ is a perfect replacement.

The Autel Robotics Evo Lite+ is easy to fly and offers 40 minutes of flight time with a superb 4k camera. Further, the Autel Robotics Evo Lite+ boasts an autonomous option that gives you ample time to generate quality content for your audience.

3. DJI Mini 3 Pro #

The DJI Mini 3 Pro is a powerful, compact drone that can easily take your journalistic ventures a notch higher. With excellent low-light performance, obstacle avoidance sensors, and helpful automated flight modes, you will enjoy flying the DJI Mini 3 Pro.

The DJI Mini 3 Pro’s quality camera and tremendous obstacle avoidance capabilities ensure that you can obtain transformative photos and videos for your audience.

4. DJI Mini 2 #

The DJI Mini 2 is the best budget entry-level drone for aerial cinematography enthusiasts. While it lacks the follow-me mode capability, it has other incredible features to make it more useful to beginners and journalists.

The compact body size makes it easy to transport, while the long battery life ensures you have enough time to capture the best moments.

5. DJI Mavic 3 #

The DJI Mavic is an upgrade of the DJI Air 2S as it takes most of the features from the Air 2S.

With about 46 minutes of flight time, 5.1K video, and 20-megapixel photo capability, the DJI Mavic 3 is better than most of its competition.

The only drawback to this drone is that it is expensive.

6. DJI Phantom 4 Pro V2.0 #

The DJI Phantom 4 Pro V2.0 is a perfect option for journalists looking for a sturdy and powerful drone to advance their journalistic ventures.

It’s sturdy and powerful nature makes it ideal and reliable during windy conditions.

Besides the sturdy structure, the DJI Phantom 4 Pro V2.0 also features intelligent flight modes such as active track and incredible obstacle avoidance.

All these are designed to ensure that you get quality photos and videos.

What to look for in the best cinematography drones #

Before you invest in drone technology for media and communication, ensure you know what to look for in the best drones.

Ideally, the best drone for media technology needs impressive capabilities such as excellent design, obstacle avoidance sensors, a top-notch camera, long battery life, a good gimbal, portability, long flight range, autonomous modes, and an intuitive controller.

Drones such as the incredible DJI Air 2S boast all the above features. Therefore, investing in such drones makes you less likely to be disappointed.

Conclusion #

Drone technology has become quite prominent in the media industry due to its numerous advantages.

A journalist can capture great moments, cut production costs, tell stories from unique perspectives, and exploit many more benefits with quality drones.

To overcome the challenges of incorporating drones in media and communication, you should study the rules and regulations governing the use of drones.

Further, investing in quality drones can make using UAVs in journalism more exhilarating.