Bass Fellows learn drone journalism from Prof. Keith Plocek

by Sasha Jackson

Bass Fellows are learning to report from the air, thanks to Prof. Keith Plocek.

Through his role as a Bass Lab Faculty Fellow, Plocek designs and teaches drone journalism weekend workshops for the research center. Plocek said he was inspired to join the group when Dr. Richardson announced the Lab’s launch in a faculty meeting last fall.

Since then, he has crisscrossed Los Angeles with the Bass Lab’s student fellows, helping them learn about Black landmarks in the city. The students’ footage will contribute to a future mobile app called Monumental, which will map iconic African American spaces along the West Coast.

“[This is a] perfect combination between history and technology,” Plocek said.

He added that the Bass Lab's goals, to highlight the Western history of Black American history, interested him too. “I like the mission because I like California history and pushing through this ‘smug’ California attitude some people have with social issues.” 

Prof. Keith Plocek helps Bass Fellows (Rafiq Taylor and Bee Pollard) learn to fly drones.

Prof. Keith Plocek started his journalism career at the University of Texas at Austin for his bachelor's degree. Later on, after obtaining his master's at Cambridge, he began his research in culture and digital storytelling. Since then, Plocek has been a director of digital content, staff writer, web editor, and social media manager at the LA Weekly, OC Weekly, The Village Voice and the Miami New Times.

Since the start of Plocek's USC Annenberg career in 2014, he's taught many students all forms of digital storytelling. He's lectured journalism courses for bachelor's and master's degree programs about culture, travel, and surfing. From teaching his students writing, reporting, and photography to graphics and web development while sharing his expertise in arts, digital media, culture, coding, the history of Los Angeles, social media, and sports.

Plocek said he is excited to continue supporting the Bass Lab as a faculty fellow. He said: “The Lab is looking at the history in interesting ways. The Bass Lab is a great project.”