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Special Topics Coursein Drone Journalism Commercial Drone ExpoProf. Darrin M. DevaultDr. Robert ByrdApril 9, 2016

We are pleased to be the recipient of a grant that will allow our faculty and students the opportunity to explore the use of drones as a news-gathering tool.

We are working to develop a special topics course in Drone Journalism to be offered this fall.1

Why Drone Journalism?2

Why are we interested in drone journalism?

Current disruption in the journalism and news industry makes it necessary to experiment with new and alternative ways of news gathering and reporting.

The purpose of our course is to give students an understanding of the innovations drone technology can bring to journalism as well as practical knowledge of UAV operation. 2

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The emergence of drone technology in the media world is neither a fad nor an anomaly.

It is an indicator of the future of innovation in journalism.

The emergence of drone technology in the media world is neither a fad nor an anomaly.

It is an indicator of the future of innovation in journalism.3

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Five Pillars of U of M Journalism5

Professionalism

Writing

Multimedia

Critical Thinking

Media Literacy

We will build our Drone Journalism course around the five pillars of the Memphis journalism program: 1) Professionalism; 2) Writing; 3) Multimedia; 4) Critical Thinking; and 5) Media Literacy.5

Pillar #1: Professionalism6

Students will learn the professional and ethical standards for safely using drones as a news-gathering tool.

First, students will learn the professional and ethical standards for safely using drones as a news-gathering tool.6

Pillar #2: Writing7

Students will use their writing skills as the basis for reports and presentations about their experiences with drones.

Second, students will use their writing skills as the basis for reports and presentations about their experiences with drones.7

Pillar #3: Multimedia8

Students will prepare a drone video story and editing project.

Pillar #3 is where the real fun and exploration begin.

Students will prepare a drone video story and editing project.8

Pillar #4: Critical Thinking9

Students will learn to include drone footage in video news stories.

Students will learn to research the principles of entrepreneurship to consider a drone business startup.

Students will use their critical thinking skills to include drone footage in video news stories.

And they will learn to research the principles of entrepreneurship at the universitys Crews Center for Entrepreneurship to consider a drone business startup.9

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Pillar #5: Media Literacy11

Students will research and monitor the latest developments in drone use in journalism and other industries.

Finally, students will research and monitor the latest developments in drone use in journalism and other industries.11

Course Deliverables12

Class Blog

Drone News Story Project

Video Editing Project

Business Startup Project

Now, lets take a quick look at what our students will deliver by the end of the fall semester.

The four major categories are a class blog, a drone news story project, a related video editing project, and a business model project.12

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www.dronejournalism.org

Established in 2011, PSDJ is the first international organization dedicated to establishing the ethical, educational and technological framework for the emerging field of drone journalism. We explore best practices to deploy drones for a variety of reporting needs, including investigative, disaster, weather, sports, and environmental journalism.13

U of M DRONES Clusterwww.memphis.edu/fedeclusters/drones.php14

We believe our project has a great deal of promise for research and innovation in journalism. We look forward to presenting our results in the future.

Thank you for your time.14