18 pages., via online journal., Meeting the demands of a proficient scientific workforce depends on students’ communication skill preparation. To describe students’ self-perceptions of their communication skills, we surveyed 315 students in Texas A&M University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Participants noted they were most proficient in their ability to listen effectively and least proficient in asking effective questions. Each communication skill characteristic showed a statistically significant difference before and after college engagement, but we found no statistically significant difference in the overall communication scores of students. Therefore, we recommend: 1) interviewing employers to understand their perceptions of entry-level employees; 2) investigating when students transition from false sense of confidence to actual confidence; 3) conducting a longitudinal study to investigate students’ perceptions of communication skills throughout their college experience; 4) evaluating faculty’s communication
teaching methods across disciplines; and 5) investigating the influence of self-reflection on students’ attained communication skills. Conducting such studies could lead to stronger connections between the academy and the industry, especially as faculty strive to align their teaching with needs of the industry.
3 pages., via online journal., As a long-time writer of silly, nonsensical blogs and books and the owner of a Himalayan trekking company, I’m often asked the same question from people who are clearly confused about what I do: “What makes a great communicator?” I’m faced with this question so often that I’ve decided to impart some of the overflowing wisdom that people seem to think I have on the topic and compile my Top Five Secrets to Achieving Great Communication, which will then render the title improper because they will no longer, by definition, be secrets.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 102 Document Number: D10892
Notes:
Online from the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues, Lexington, Kentucky, Rural Blog. 3 pages., Describes the editorial approach of two award-winning local newspapers in focusing on the human toll of changing market forces in the dairy industry.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 122 Document Number: D11137
Notes:
10 pages., From author., Remarks at the memorial service for John Harvey, nationally respected and honored agricultural journalist and communicator. Former president of the American Agricultural Editors' Association.
2 pages., Via online journal., Author's editorial in Farm Futures magazine was a winning entry in the 2018 AAEA Communication recognition program. Author questioned the presidential trade and immigration moves that "to me, made no sense for U.S agriculture or for that matter the general economy." In this article he described his rationale, reader reactions, and approach to writing editorials.
The award-winning editorial (two pages)is attached to this document. It is available online at https://www.farmprogress.com/farm-life/beware-rural-outrage-cycle., Via online issue. 2 pages., This editorial was written by the author of the winning entry in the Editorial Opinion category, 2019 AAEA communications contest.
9 pages., Includes a link to the seven-page article which this award-winning agricultural reporter wrote for the February 2018 issue of Western Horseman magazine.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 121 Document Number: D11073
Notes:
Via AgNewsCenter.com, a proprietary information source. 3 pages., Suggestions from a recent agricultural communications graduate at California State University, Fresno.
