This document summarizes an experiment conducted by L'Express Lab on drone journalism. They lent drones to 5 experimenters from different backgrounds for 3 months to examine how each would use this new tool. The experimenters found that piloting skills are essential for drone journalism. While drones provide new perspectives, technical difficulties remain. The experiment helped evaluate drones' potential for journalism and sparked discussion, but did not clearly establish drones as a new journalistic format. It revealed drones may one day enhance reporting but require further development and practice.

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# droneJournalisme
« Drone it »
A drone journalism experiment

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# droneJournalisme
Drone’s boom : 2012-2013
• Since the early 90s, the civil drone is used in cinema but only the military
function was noticeablebecause of its complexity and its cost
• Since 2 years, the coming up of drones « key in hand » revolutionned the
access to a technology and in the same time opened the way to a new
democratisation of the drone’s use.
• In 2012, The first significant experiments about civil uses of drones took
place: counting elephants, watching fire, recording events…

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Our experiment
• L’Express’s Lab is elaborating
innovative projects for the Group’s
brands on all devices.
• Working on subjects between
technology and journalism is in our
DNA.
• End of 2012 and in a pragmatic way,
we’ve decided to lead this experiment
to build ourselves an opinion.
• We’ve lend drones to 5 experimenters
with different profiles, for 3 months.
 Aims : Examine what each of these
experimenters will do with this new
tool within everyone’s reach

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Collaborating protagonists
With this project, we have the opportunity to have a
partnership with other innovate companies

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Equipment’s protagonists
Parrot Drone
This experiment made us integrate different recording and optimization tools within
everyone’s reach.
DJI S800 Hexacopter
Vyclone software
Romo Robot
And spare parts

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Our experimenters
Charles de Coquereaumont
Aerophotographer,Mixed media
artist
Loic Saint-Jalmes, activistEole, photographer
PPC, InnovatorBenjamin Turquier,
Head of video hub
L’Express’s Lab

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Assessment of 3 months test
Just drone it by Charlotte B.

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Many unexpected discussions
• Discussions about tools and videos
• Discussions about private life (a lot)
• Discussions about journalism
• Discussions about discussions

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The Drone, a piloting matter

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The Drone, a piloting matter
• Piloting is the drone journalism’s keystone.
• It needs hours of practice, a propitious weather and a good
anticipation of battery’s capacity.
• It’s exposed to many technical difficulties (vibrations,
picture’s stability and safety…)
• However these difficulties are to shade according to the
drone’s type!
Eole’s conclusionsEole’s conclusions
PhotographerPhotographer

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Towards an activist drone?
DAMOURETTE/SIPA

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Towards an activist drone?
• « The important thing, with a drone, is to wear good shoes»
• Gives good spotting ans zones tracking
• Limited with wind, but overhead views bring an large
eyesightmais of a protest march.
• Without necessary counting, it gives a concrete idea of a mass
• For piloting, smartphones are more convenient than tablets
Loïc saint Jalmes’s conclusionsLoïc saint Jalmes’s conclusions
Entrepreneur and activistEntrepreneur and activist

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Drone and heritage
Le drone des invalides by Charlotte B.

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Drone and heritage
• The drone inside gives a redefinition and an
increase of frescos, castles, ceilings…
• Film in motion is more dynamic and brings a best
added value than static photos took from a
scaffolding
• A great perception of unknown details
• « the drone is an answer for the future »
PPC’s conclusionsPPC’s conclusions
InnovatorInnovator

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Dronalist*, a new job ?

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• A lot of questions : real journalistic and editorial
interests? Do I want one in my studio?
• There isn’t a real journalistic way that came up
• He’s wondering the function but showed the real
tool’s and a need of a better recording quality.
Dronalist*, a new job ?
Benjamin Turquier’s conclusionsBenjamin Turquier’s conclusions
Head of video hub of Express Roulart GroupHead of video hub of Express Roulart Group
* Le dictionnaire du futur http://www.dicodufutur.org/

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Conclusion
• We have published about fifteen articles on
our blog and our experimenters shared many
recordings
• Our experiment has been took over by many
medias (Le monde, Rfi, France Info, Télérama,
AFP, etc..), helped colleagues questionning
themselves and made react different kinds of
professions.
• Our empirical approach shows that only a
good pratice could give a real place to drone
journalism

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Conclusion
« 10% journalist, 30% video, 60% piloting : with the drone
journalism, the journalist makes use of a new sight, the
videast enhances it… but nothing is possible without piloting
competences. The possibilities we’ve considered help to
predict a shining future for the drone journalism »
Raphaël Labbé
Director of innovation in Express Roularta Group