Media and Communication Open Access Journal | ISSN: 2183-2439 Volume 8, Issue 3 (2020) JournalismJournalism fromfrom Above:Above: Drones,Drones, thethe Media,Media, andand thethe TransformationTransformation ofof JournalisticJournalistic PracticePractice Editors Jonas Harvard, Mats Hyvönen and Ingela Wadbring Media and Communication, 2020, Volume 8, Issue 3 Journalism from Above: Drones, the Media, and the Transformation of Journalistic Practice Published by Cogitatio Press Rua Fialho de Almeida 14, 2º Esq., 1070-129 Lisbon Portugal Academic Editors Jonas Harvard (Mid Sweden University, Sweden) Mats Hyvönen (Uppsala University, Sweden) Ingela Wadbring (Mid Sweden University, Sweden) Available online at: www.cogitatiopress.com/mediaandcommunication This issue is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY). Articles may be reproduced provided that credit is given to the original and Media and Communication is acknowledged as the original venue of publication. Table of Contents Journalism from Above: Drones and the Media in Critical Perspective Jonas Harvard, Mats Hyvönen and Ingela Wadbring 60–63 Drone Journalism as Visual Aggregation: Toward a Critical History James F. Hamilton 64–74 Diffusion of Drone Journalism: The Case of Finland, 2011–2020 Turo Uskali, Ville Manninen, Pasi Ikonen and Jere Hokkanen 75–84 Post-Hype Uses of Drones in News Reporting: Revealing the Site and Presenting Scope Jonas Harvard 85–92 Dual Control: Investigating the Role of Drone (UAV) Operators in TV and Online Journalism Catherine Adams 93–100 Technologies, Ethics and Journalism’s Relationship with the Public Megan Duncan and Kathleen Bartzen Culver 101–111 Relationships between Law Enforcement Authorities and Drone Journalists in Spain Jorge Gallardo-Camacho and Vanessa Rodríguez Breijo 112–122 Audience Attention and Emotion in News Filmed with Drones: A Neuromarketing Research Luis Mañas-Viniegra, Alberto García-García and Ignacio J. Martín-Moraleda 123–136 Drones, Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality Journalism: Mapping Their Role in Immersive News Content John V. Pavlik 137–146 Media and Communication (ISSN: 2183–2439) 2020, Volume 8, Issue 3, Pages 60–63 DOI: 10.17645/mac.v8i3.3442 Editorial Journalism from Above: Drones and the Media in Critical Perspective Jonas Harvard 1,*, Mats Hyvönen 2 and Ingela Wadbring 1 1 Department of Media and Communication Science, Mid Sweden University, 851 70 Sundsvall, Sweden; E-Mails: [email protected] (J.H.), [email protected] (I.W.) 2 Department of Cultural Anthropology and Ethnology, Uppsala University, 751 26 Uppsala, Sweden; E-Mail: [email protected] * Corresponding author Submitted: 6 July 2020 | Published: 27 July 2020 Abstract In the last decade, the development of small, remotely operated multicopters with cameras, so-called drones, has made aerial photography easily available. Consumers and institutions now use drones in a variety of ways, both for personal entertainment and professionally. The application of drones in media production and journalism is of particular interest, as it provides insight into the complex interplay between technology, the economic and legal constraints of the media mar- ket, professional cultures and audience preferences. The thematic issue Journalism from Above: Drones, the Media, and the Transformation of Journalistic Practice presents new research concerning the role of drones in journalism and media production. The issue brings together scholars representing a variety of approaches and perspectives. A broad selection of empirical cases from Finland, Spain, Sweden, the UK and the US form the basis of an exploration of the changing relations between the media, technology and society. The articles address topics such as: Adaption of drone technology in the news- rooms; audience preferences and reactions in a changing media landscape; the relation between journalists and public authorities who use drones; and attitudes from journalistic practitioners as well as historical and future perspectives. Keywords aerial views; audience preferences; drones; journalism; media history; media production; new media technology; photojournalism; Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Issue This editorial is part of the issue “Journalism from Above: Drones, the Media, and the Transformation of Journalistic Practice’’ edited by Jonas Harvard (Mid Sweden University, Sweden), Mats Hyvönen (Uppsala University, Sweden) and Ingela Wadbring (Mid Sweden University, Sweden). © 2020 by the authors; licensee Cogitatio (Lisbon, Portugal). This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribu- tion 4.0 International License (CC BY). 1. Introduction vides insight into the complex interplay between tech- nology, the economic and legal constraints of the media What is it like to be a bird? Ever since the first manned market, professional cultures and audience preferences. air balloon flights in the 18th century, technologies en- As we take stock of nearly ten years of research on abling aerial views have fascinated mankind (Dorrian & the application of drones in the media and journalism, Pousin, 2013). In the last decade, the development of the existing emphasis on analysing drones from the per- small, remotely operated multicopters with cameras, so- spective of innovations is noteworthy, with key works called drones, has made this perspective from above eas- calling drones a ‘disruptive’ technology (Belair-Gagnon, ily available. Consumers and institutions now use drones Holton, & Owen, 2017; Gynnild, 2014). Although these in a variety of ways, both for personal entertainment and lines of inquiry have provided important knowledge professionally. The application of drones in media pro- about the spread and uptake of drones in journalism and duction and journalism is of particular interest, as it pro- the media industry, there is a clear need to broaden the Media and Communication, 2020, Volume 8, Issue 3, Pages 60–63 60 scope. As time has passed, some of the early promises business models long taken for granted. The application have failed to materialise, and the reasons are not en- of new technologies, such as drones, in reporting gives tirely clear. Differing legal frameworks for operating media companies one option to increase the attractive- drones have produced large regional variations, but ness of their material, but such a strive for innovation there are also other factors in play. Enduring safety con- and novelty also raises new concerns. cerns and integrity issues, as well as a possibly fading nov- The thematic issue Journalism from Above: Drones, elty factor have created a complex landscape of journal- the Media, and the Transformation of Journalistic istic drone use. Practice presents new research concerning the role of Innovation centric perspectives thus need to be in- drones in journalism and media production. The issue tegrated with insight into counter narratives, limitations brings together scholars representing a variety of ap- and alternative paths (for ethical issues see Bartzen proaches and perspectives. A broad selection of empiri- Culver, 2014; for an overview see Chamberlain, 2017). cal cases from Finland, Spain, Sweden, the UK and the US The current thematic issue is therefore designed to pro- form the basis of an exploration of the changing relations vide a comprehensive and critical examination of drones between the media, technology and society. The articles and the media in order to untangle the complexity of the address topics such as: adaption of drone technology in conflicts new media technology raises. the newsrooms; audience preferences and reactions in a To this end, it is helpful to see drones as part of a body changing media landscape; the relation between journal- of ‘sociotechnical imaginaries’; visions of scientific and ists and public authorities who use drones; and attitudes technological progress with “implicit ideas of public pur- from journalistic practitioners as well as historical and fu- pose, collective futures and the common good” (Jasanoff ture perspectives. & Kim, 2015). This concept directs attention to issues of power and authority inherent in technology and its appli- 2. Contributions in the Thematic Issue cation in society. One example of how drones can embody power re- This thematic issue begins with James F. Hamilton’s lations is the relationship between drone imagery and (2020) article, ‘Drone Journalism as Visual Aggregation: the so-called ‘surveillance gaze’ in modern society, con- Toward a Critical History,’ in which he introduces the con- nected to widespread use of CCTV cameras and satellite cept of ‘visual aggregation’ to explore what makes drone imagery by state agencies (Carlsson, 2009). The use of imagery so compelling for major news organisations. By drones in public frequently raises concerns from those aggregating space visually, drone journalism produces a potentially covered by the footage, as people are un- visual analogy to the claim to truth of data journalism. To sure by whom they are watched and for what purposes understand how drone journalism is a response to the (Bajde et al., 2017). The complexity of what drone tech- institutional crisis in journalism, Hamilton employs a cul- nology represents is also mirrored in current societal dis- tural and historical approach and identifies key points course, where drones are portrayed both as an oppor- in the emergence of visual aggregation as authoritative tunity and as a problem. The proposed benefits of us- truth, pointing to a wide range