Abbott, Eric A. (author / Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication) and Iowa State University
Format:
Paper
Publication Date:
2004-06-20
Published:
USA
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 139 Document Number: C21022
Notes:
Paper presented to Research Special Interest Group, Association for Communication Excellence, for presentation at its international meeting, Lake Tahoe, Nevada, June 20-24. Paul Yarbrough, emeritus professor, Cornell University, contributed to the design of the study., 16 p., A total of 226 Iowa farm households with computers were surveyed in 2001 about their use of the Internet for both farm and non-farm uses. Of the 111 farmers (49%) that responded, 87 (78%) used the Internet. Results showed heavy Internet use by multiple household members (farmer, spouse and children), especially for information-seeking and email activities. Use of the Internet for transactions was limited. Farmers were more likely to seek farm decision information, whereas children were more likely to play games and use the Internet for school activities. Spouses used the Internet mostly for email. Farmers now regard the Internet as an essential tool for gathering information they couldn't find elsewhere. Implications for communicators are that the Internet should now be part of the information plan for all communicators serving rural farm audiences, both for farm and non-farm information. Extension and other trusted sources should spend more time guiding clients to trustworthy sites for information.
Abbott, Eric A. (author), Schmidt, Allan G. (author), and Yarbrough, J. Paul (author)
Format:
Book chapter
Publication Date:
2000
Published:
USA
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Document Number: C29076
Notes:
Pages 201-226 in Peter F. Korsching, Patricia C. Hipple and Eric A. Abbott (eds.), Having all the right connections: telecommunications and rural viability. Praeger, Westport, Connecticut. 348 pages.
Dordick, Herbert S. (author), Bradley, H.G. (author), and Nanus, Burt (author)
Format:
Book
Publication Date:
1981
Published:
USA: Ablex Publishing Corporation, Norwood, NJ.
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Document Number: C21250
Notes:
Includes a discussion (p. 151) about attitudes of rural residents in support of rural post offices, despite potentials for using electronic technology instead of physical delivery of mail. "Of the Service's 40,000 buildings, 30,800 can be considered community or rural installations and generate only 4.5% of the total revenues." Mentions (p. 216-217) several agricultural applications of computer networks. (p. 217) Farmers are among the latest group to join a fast-growing list of non-technical users of computer networks. They are becoming aware that farming is not a way of life but a business - one that needs management tools." Predicts (p. 237) "In the nineties the issue will be one of equality of access to information, with the specialized networks doing very well financially because of the valuable and efficient services they will be providing. For some time, thoughtful observers have expressed fear that the emerging information society will produce a new class of information elite, and, indeed, there do exist two classes of people and businesses: the information users and the information used." Observes that electronic technologies are not decentralizing and opening access to business opportunities, but leading toward concentration of the components of the network marketplace. (p. 237) "This greater concentration of intellectual power in the emerging information society can only lead to concentrations of industrial and financial power which are not in concert with the American economic dream."
