The Federal Aviation Administration grounded university programs in Nebraska and Missouri to perfect the use of drones in journalism, but the FAA is expected to legalize the use of drones for commercial purposes early in 2016. Drones would be especially useful in covering stories that involve huge swaths of land in natural or man-caused disasters. [(The Poynter Institute, January 11, 2016, by Benjamin Mullin)
In a roundup of expert commentary on the use of drones in journalism, Matthew Schroyer of the Professional Society of Drone Journalists listed among opportunities the use of drones to make 3D models of scenes on the ground and as replacements for expensive helicopters. He also said the challenges include dealing with diverse rules set at the federal, state and municipal levels; safety; and public reluctance to accept the new technology. (skytango, April 29, 2016, posted by Marco Mancosu)