See related dissertation: "Reading, reform and rural change: the Midwestern farm press, 1895-1920", This article argues that historians should not take agricultural newspapers as is and assume they expressed the farmer's point of view. Farm newspapers often reflected urban reform ideas, such as those involving rural school consolidation, rural churches and family farms. "Farm newspapers are better seen not as expressing the ideas of farmers, but providing a forum for reformers and farmers to debate proposed changes to country life." Research involved four midwestern farm newspapers between 1895 and 1920: Iowa Homestead; Wallaces' Farmer; Prairie Farmer; and Missouri Ruralist.
Editor of Western Farm Press explains how shameless it would be for editors to waste paper and ink to brag about their grandchildren and even include photos of them (as he does here).
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 148 Document Number: C23861
Notes:
Abstract of a presentation at the Butler/Cunningham Conference, Montgomery, Alabama, November 8-9, 2004. 1 page, Power Point visuals supported this presentation: Author describes editorial strategies for serving commercial farmers and others on "farms" as lifestyle, based on results of focus groups, surveys and other sources of audience feedback.
