’60 Minutes’ Hovers Over Topic of Drone Use

By Chris Ariens 

WilsonImage

When New York local and national media descended on East Harlem Wednesday morning after two buildings exploded, Brian Wilson wasn’t far behind. And he brought along with his DJI Phantom 2 quadcopter, a camera-equipped drone that hovered over the scene of the devastation.

“I mostly use it to shoot real estate or sports events,” Wilson told the Daily News. “This was the first time I used it for breaking news.” But Matthew Schroyer, the founder of the Professional Society of Drone Journalism, calls Wilson’s actions “irresponsible” and “reckless.” The image shown above was taken by Wilson’s drone.

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As we’ve been reporting on TVNewser and TVSpy, Wilson is among the pioneers in the brave new world of UAV newsgathering. As news divisions discuss how, or even if, to use drones, the federal government is exploring how to regulate them.

Tonight on “60 Minutes” Morley Safer explores the new world of commercial drones (clip after the jump) and talks with Senate Intelligence Committee Chair Diane Feinstein about her concerns.

And we’ll be debating the issue of drones in newsgathering at the TVNewser Show, April 29. Click here for more information.

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