LU was the first HBCU to offer drone journalism training
Clarion News
LINCOLN UNIVERSITY – The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has selected the Lincoln University journalism program for the Unmanned Aircraft Systems-Collegiate Training Initiative program – or the UAS-CTI.
“This partnership with the FAA will significantly improve our drone journalism training,” said LU journalism associate professor Will Sites.” According to Sites, Lincoln University was the first HBCU to incorporate drones into a media program.
Drones are used during the production of the Clarion News campus news and across the journalism curriculum, including JOU 499 Senior Capstone as part of FAA drone licensing test-prep coursework. Sites said obtaining practical flight experience and/or an FAA Part 107 drone license (required for journalism work) can lead to jobs beyond journalism.
“I want students to get comfortable flying drones in all kinds of conditions and for a variety of reasons,” Sites said. “It’s a skill that goes well beyond the newsroom.”
According to the FAA, the UAS-CTI program recognizes institutions that prepare students for careers in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), commonly referred to as drones. In order to qualify for the initiative, schools must offer a bachelor’s or associates degree in UAS or a degree with a minor, concentration, or certificate in UAS. Schools must provide curriculum covering various aspects of UAS training, including hands-on flight practice, maintenance, uses, applications, privacy concerns, safety, and federal policies concerning UAS.
“It’s important that we work with the FAA to provide our drone journalism students updated regulations and best-practices,” Sites said from his office in MLK Hall. “Being part of the UAS-CTI program will provide access to other schools and industries – it’s a win-win.”
Lincoln University was the first HBCU to offer a journalism degree program (1942) and has one of the oldest four-year public HBCU campus newspapers, the Clarion News, which was founded by LU Kappa Alpha Psi members in 1932.
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