Media Insider: Good News for Drone Journalism, BuzzFeed to Launch Tasty App, Facebook Bets On Instant Articles
Welcome to Media Insider, PR Newswire’s round-up of media stories from the week.
Photo by John Mills, used under CC BY 2.0.
POYNTER | AL TOMPKINS
Drone journalists get very good news — instant waivers
The FAA is making it much easier for journalists covering stories within five miles of big airports. According to Poynter, the agency will start Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC) in select cities, which grants journalists “instant authorization” for drone flights in controlled airspace. The process for such waivers typically takes up to 90 days. Cincinnati, Phoenix, and Miami are the first big city airports that will provide LAANC. Fifty cities will be included by the end of the year.
ICYMI: We published a story on drone journalism late last year — it was predicted that as many as 600,000 commercial drones will fill the air in 2017.
DIGIDAY | ILYSE LIFFREING
BuzzFeed is developing an app for Tasty
BuzzFeed’s Tasty is coming to an app near you. It’s unclear when the app will launch, but the publication is asking users to select a tagline for the new app, reports Digiday. The app will contain recipes similar to what is featured on the online publication, in addition to side-by-side visuals and instructions, and a favorites list. Sources said BuzzFeed will announce the move next week.
More from BuzzFeed: The online publisher launched Reporting to You, a morning briefing, for the Amazon Echo and similar devices.
TECHCRUNCH | JOSH CONSTINE
Facebook tries to prove Instant Articles beat mobile web
Facebook claims that its Instant Articles feature drives more referral traffic for publishers, and it’s teaming up with Nielsen to prove it. This week, Facebook launched an analytics comparison tool. It looks at referral traffic from a test group of people who see Instant Article versions of links, and a control group that sees mobile web versions, reports TechCrunch. Facebook says that over 25 percent more in the US and Canada click and read Instant Articles over mobile web. Publishers who have posted enough of both formats are receiving the tool first.
Battle of the tech giants: Google introduces the feed, a personalized stream of news on iOS and Android.
FIVETHIRTYEIGHT | PERRY BACON JR.
When to trust a story that uses unnamed sources
FiveThirtyEight’s Perry Bacon, Jr., prepared a guide for readers to determine whether they should trust a story that uses unnamed sources. In part one of his two-part series, he bases his tips on his personal experiences and conversations with other journalists and political types. According to Bacon, readers can trust an article if: multiple sources add up; if a trusted source says something happened, verses saying something might happen; if the story contains in-depth information about its sources; the reporter or news organization has a good reputation and expertise for reporting on the subject; and if a spokesperson offers a vague or imprecise “denial.”
Related: People have trouble detecting fake images and identifying where they’ve been changed.
HUFFPOST MEDIA | DOMINIQUE MOSBERGEN
Reporter hailed a ‘patriot’ for defying White House by live-streaming press briefing
It’s no secret that reporters aren’t very fond of the new White House guidelines banning live audio and video coverage of press briefings. Pavlovic Today reporter Ksenija Pavlovic defied those rules on Wednesday, and streamed audio from a press briefing held by deputy White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders. HuffPost reports that it remains unclear whether she will face repercussions from the White House, but several Twitter users praised her for her “patriotism” and hope other reporters will follow her lead.
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Tabresha B. Langham is a Customer Content Specialist with PR Newswire. She also is a social media junkie, foodie, music fiend and Auburn University Alumn (War Eagle!). Tune into her insights as a social curator at @PRNmedia, or follow @TabreshaL.
