At first blush, journalists using drones to gather information for high-risk or investigative news stories sounds like a good idea. After all, such unmanned aircraft systems can be sent into dangerous (or geographically challenging) news situations where life and limb might be at risk. An added bonus is that drones are much cheaper to operate than either an airplane or a … [Read more...] about Red tape snarls drone deployment for journalists
FAA’s missed deadline on drone regulations puts journalists in limbo
The headline on the story written by Keith Wagstaff and posted online Oct. 1 at the website www.nbcnews.com couldn’t be any clearer: “FAA Misses Deadline for Creating Drone Regulations.” With all the intricacies of the drone debate swirling through the media, this should come as no surprise to anyone who’s followed this issue. But the news poses a serious obstacle for … [Read more...] about FAA’s missed deadline on drone regulations puts journalists in limbo
GJR book review: Language evolution slays once-sacred cows in AP Stylebook
The Associated Press Stylebook and Briefing on Media Law Editors: Darrell Christian, Paula Froke, Sally Jacobsen and David Minthorn Publisher: The Associated Press, New York, 2014 … [Read more...] about GJR book review: Language evolution slays once-sacred cows in AP Stylebook
Magazine’s headline has Texans fighting mad
In almost three decades as a print journalist, I never called out a fellow headline writer for something he or she crafted to introduce a story. Until now. What I never did was write a headline so egregiously bad that readers threatened to yank their subscriptions over what I wrote. Someone at Texas Monthly Magazine did, however. Here’s the headline: “Blue Bellghazi … [Read more...] about Magazine’s headline has Texans fighting mad
With drone technology, potential pitfalls are worth the risk
Articles such as Ravi Somaiya’s Jan. 15 story in the New York Times, titled “Times and Other News Organizations to Test Use of Drones,” should come as a surprise to no one who’s been paying attention to the technology behind these unmanned aerial vehicles. After all, what makes drones so appealing to journalists is that they give reporters access to the sky. That’s something … [Read more...] about With drone technology, potential pitfalls are worth the risk