San Francisco, Portland Get Drones for News Reporters

The announcement is sending waves throughout the media community, and already producing criticism from privacy advocates.

 Radio Ink Magazine, considered one of the "Bibles" of broadcasting and media business, is reporting San Francisco news station KFI has issued a drone to each field reporter, to better help them cover news.

KFI-AM, the flagship station for Michael Savage, among other prominent syndicated shows as well as news reporting, will immediately begin the testing and training phase for it's reporters.  According to Radio Ink:

".. KFI ecomes the first Southern California radio news outlet to utilize drone technology for news gathering. Reporters will be required to complete both classroom and field training with an instructor and the KFI News Drones will now be a part of their general news gathering technology."

KFI Program Director Robin Bertolucci says "there's not doubt this is the future of news gathering."

But they're not the only ones.  Alpha Media, who operates TV stations in Portland, Oregon, including well-respected KOIN-TV, are also operating drones for news gathering purposes.

Privacy advocates say they understand the desire, as a drone can provide aerial coverage only possible previously with a helicopter, and drones can access areas too confined for a chopper.  But they also warn about privacy invasion issues, and citizens not involved in the news story having their personal space invaded.

But before you worry about buzzing TV cameras in our skies, consider these drones are NOT cheap, and most local and regional stations have far greater use for their financial resources than buying a drone and "playing" with it.