Celebrating “First Amendment Day”

Happy (Belated) First Amendment Day to our publishing partners! Thank you for the essential work that you do. “The five freedoms we celebrate on First Amendment Day protect the fundamental ways we participate in society and in democracy:


1.) Praying and worship — or not — in accordance with our own beliefs;
2.) Speaking our minds, even — and especially — when we disagree;
3.) ******Publishing news, opinions, ideas and information, including to hold those in power accountable********
4.) Gathering peacefully together to amplify our voices;
5.) Bringing problems to government representatives and suggesting solutions.”

Link to read more about the importance of this holiday – https://www.freedomforum.org/2021/09/15/perspective-first-amendment-day-is-a-reminder-we-get-to-have-a-say/

NNA Survey Shows Newspapers are Still a Top Source of Local News

The National Newspaper Association recently conducted a survey to find out what consumers preferences were when it came to learning about local news in their community.

Newspapers slightly edged out television, but what was the most surprising stat was that only 1% of people surveyed cited newspaper’s websites as their preferred source. Also notable is that the majority of respondents have been readers of their local paper for 30 years or more. The full survey findings can be seen here: http://www.nnaweb.org/nna-news?articleTitle=nna-survey-newspapers-still-top-choice-for-local-news–1497279875–1575–1top-story

2017nnasurveypiechart_fitbox_350x800
Source

The “Newseum”

newseumheader
http://www.newseum.org

Anyone interested in seeing front page news from around the US every morning can stop over to Newseum.org . You can literally check out content on the front pages from over 800 newspapers – ranging from small town papers to large dailies like The Washington Post.

In addition to hosting this large group of newspaper front pages online, the Newseum has a top top rated museum headquartered in Washington D.C., featuring curated exhibits, events and programs covering notable news events throughout history.  Current exhibits include a gallery of Pulitzer Prize-winning photographs, an interactive news room and an exhibit about Presidents and their pets.

Now, more than ever, may be an important time to take a trip here and appreciate the role journalism in its various formats plays in our society. We’ll be making the trek.

“Drone Journalism” -The Berkshire Eagle Newspaper is Now Using a Drone to Cover the News

DJI - Phantom 3 Professional Quadcopter - White - Front Zoom
Image of a DJI Phantom 3 Quadcopter (via Best Buy), a type of drone now in use by a regional newspaper in Massachusetts.

 

In a recent article on Editor & Publisher, a daily newspaper in Massachusetts welcomed the newest member of its photojournalism team – “The Eagle” – a high-tech drone.

“The Eagle” will be used to to add unique photographs to the Berkshire Eagle’s coverage. Its ability to travel to great heights and take epic photographs will offer a unique vantage point to stories read by the newspapers’ thousands of readers.

The Poynter Institute  published an article in 2016 talking about some of the challenges in using drones for journalistic coverage. Privacy concerns are paramount, and federal and state regulations are still morphing as drone use becomes more mainstream. Television stations have started using them for news coverage, and their usage is poised to grow exponentially. The type of photos and videos drones can contribute are nothing short of stunning –

Photo from NPR

The FAA recently dropped the requirement for operators to have a pilot’s license, clearing the way for more widespread adoption. If your newspaper wants to send one up, you’ll just need to register it and take a short test, and you’ll be on your way to new reporting heights.

 

Post by Jess Greiner