Around the Wire: Drone Developments, Changes at The Washington Post and More Media News

Welcome to the latest installment of Around the Wire, PR Newswire’s round up of journalism, blogging, and freelancing stories from the past week.

Image by Don McCullough; used under CC BY 2.0

1. FAA Boosts CNN’s Study of Drones for Newsgathering (Mashable)

The sudden popularity of drones over the past year is astonishing. From sporting events to personal use, the technology has become quite mainstream. But that doesn’t come without certain restrictions.

The FAA currently bans unmanned aircraft for the use of news coverage. However, the tide may be turning as it recently teamed up with CNN to explore possible new guidelines and regulations. News outlets make the case that drone technology offers numerous opportunities to expand coverage.

2. A Progress Report on Jeff Bezos Transforming the Washington Post (Mediashift)

The air of change continues to blow through the offices of the Washington Post. Since Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon, took over in late 2013, the writing has been on the wall.

The newspaper since has taken significant steps to further enter the world of digital journalism. Creating an integrated digital news team, Bezos is looking toward the future — one that directly reflects the history of the tech giant’s past accomplishments and forward thinking.

3. How Do You Get Millennials to Care About Local News? The Charlotte Observer is Testing Out One Idea (NiemanLab)

Viral publishing has become a major player in today’s news landscape. Sites like BuzzFeed have found a unique way to tap the interest of millennials who quickly are becoming a prime demographic for news consumption. This is something traditional outlets have taken notice of.

Take The Charlotte Observer, for example. Last November, it launched the Charlotte Five, a news piece aimed directly at millennials meant to be viewed on a phone. It’s another sign of the times as today’s generation consumes the majority of its information on a mobile device.

4. With New Charlie Hebdo Cover, News Value Should Have Prevailed (Public Editor’s Journal/NYT)

There is nothing easy about reporting on the Charlie Hebdo situation. A number of outlets have dealt with the conflict of what to report on versus the safety of their staff. This is a conundrum The New York Times has not been immune to.

As of today, it has stuck with its original stance, something not everyone is pleased with.

5. Media News and Moves for the Week of Jan. 12 (PR Newswire’s Media Moves)

Media Moves keeps you up to date with who went where in the world of media. This week’s edition includes a number of additions at the aforementioned Washington Post, an Associated Press veteran retiring after nearly 50 years of reporting, and a promotion at Harper’s Bazaar.

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Ryan Hansen is an audience researcher with PR Newswire keeping track of the latest New York media moves. Follow him @RPH2004 for tweets about media, food, and his general take on something that may be irrelevant.