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Keeping Reporters Safe: The Ethics of Drone Journalism in a Humanitarian Crisis

In: The Routledge Companion to Media and Humanitarian Action
Robin Andersen; Robin Purnaka L. de Silva (eds.)
London: Routledge (2017), pp. 477-486

ISBN 97803678779659 (pbk); 9781315538129 (ebook)

Signature commbox: 10-Development-E 2017

"In recent years, authorities have banned the use of drones for journalism in many countries. Therefore, it is valid to claim that practicing drone journalism often leads to questions of freedom of the press, the right to receive ideas and information, and also the freedom of expression. Clearly, the best opportunities for developing drone journalism are in those countries that respect human rights, freedom of the press, and the right to obtain information. There are certainly a great many countries that bear little or no such respect, and also those where legal scholarship, as well as initial practical cases on this subject, are still developing. The ethical codes are also still under construction. The basics of journalism ethics are, indeed, very valid when practicing drone journalism. In addition, the discussion of drone journalism ethics has so far mainly focused on safety and privacy issues, with more analysis needed of the ways in which background information and context can be included by reporters using drones." (Conclusion)