Camera-equipped drones have emerged as an increasingly commonplace tool for media to acquire aerial imagery. Previous research has mainly focused on the innovative aspects and creative potential of the technology. This article argues that early optimistic projections reflected a novelty effect, typical of a culturally embedded idea that new and better technologies continuously replace older ones. Using a historical theory which distinguishes techno-optimistic innovation discourse from actual observations of technology in use, photojournalists were interviewed on the role of drones in news reporting. The results show that the practitioners historicise drones, relating them to previous aerial technologies, and they reflect on current and future uses of drones in journalism based on a notion of phases, where early hype gives way to subsequent drone fatigue. Drones are seen by many as a more convenient tool to do things that journalism has done before, but the convenience increases the use of aerial imagery. The results also show that, although photojournalists see a wide range of potential uses, there are also limitations, including the ideals of the invisible observer, safety concerns, and the perils of over-aesthetic imagery. The post-hype uses of drone photography were summarized in two categories: (a) revealing the site, establishing ‘this happened here’ and (b) presenting scope, or showing how vast or large something is.

中文翻译：

---

新闻报道中无人机的炒作后使用：揭示网站并展示范围

配备摄像头的无人机已经成为一种越来越普遍的工具，用于媒体获取空中图像。先前的研究主要集中在技术的创新方面和创造潜力。本文认为，早期的乐观预测反映了一种新颖性效应，这是一种文化底蕴的观念，即新技术和更好的技术会不断取代旧技术。利用将技术乐观创新话语与实际使用的技术观察结果区分开来的历史理论，就新闻报道中无人机的作用对摄影记者进行了采访。结果表明，从业人员对无人机进行了历史化处理，使其与以前的空中技术相关联，并且他们根据阶段性概念来反思无人机在新闻业中的当前和未来使用，早期的炒作让后续的无人机疲劳让位。无人机被许多人视为做新闻业以前做过的事更方便的工具，但这种便利增加了航空影像的使用。结果还表明，尽管新闻摄影家看到了广泛的潜在用途，但也存在局限性，包括看不见的观察者的理想，安全隐患和过度审美的影像带来的危险。无人机摄影在炒作后的用途归纳为两类：（a）揭示场地，确定“这件事在这里发生”，以及（b）展示范围，或显示事物的大小。尽管摄影记者看到了广泛的潜在用途，但也存在一些局限性，包括看不见的观察者的理想，安全隐患以及过度审美的影像带来的危险。无人机摄影在炒作后的用途归纳为两类：（a）揭示场地，确定“这件事在这里发生”，以及（b）展示范围，或显示事物的大小。尽管摄影记者看到了广泛的潜在用途，但也存在一些局限性，包括看不见的观察者的理想，安全隐患以及过度审美的影像带来的危险。无人机摄影在炒作后的用途概括为两类：（a）揭示场地，确定“这件事在这里发生”，以及（b）展示范围，或显示事物的大小。