4 pages., Via online., "The chief ethical fear for the past 99 years of agricultural journalism has been that one of our number would cuddle up closer to advertisers than others of us, and reap unethical benefits of that. The chief charge of every Ethics Committee [of AAEA] has been to protect our collective readers from any hoodwinking that would come from such collusion. As I look toward that 100th year, I wonder who needs protecting from whom." Examines pressures on agricultural journalists in the wake of divided audience perspectives about the role of agricultural media in covering contentious political issues
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 144 Document Number: C22544
Notes:
Published in "The Final Word" column of Food Routes Network, Millheim, Pennsylvania. Issue 44. 2 pages., Author expresses concern that farm magazines and newspapers in the U.S. are "as bland and featureless as a sun-scorched pasture: there's nothing there to chew on; no water, no food, no new ideas." Suggests they need to challenge the status quo and publicly discuss and debate new ideas.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 144 Document Number: C22545
Notes:
Published in a column, "The Final Word," from Food Routes Network, Millheim, Pennsylvania. Issue 45. 2 pages., Author reports on consolidation of farm periodicals, with resulting cutbacks in editorial staffing and in local coverage. Describes financial pressures that lead to more use of free-lance writers that often write for ag publications and ag public relations agencies simultaneously. "But the divided loyalties often yield stories that resemble corporate press releases more than journalism." Cites an example from his experience as a free-lance writer.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 178 Document Number: C35774
Notes:
"The Farm Journalist"series via online. 3 pages., Suggests that ag magazines must respond to the new reality calling for readers to be far better served and to charge accordingly. "The force driving magazines forward will be content rather than advertising."
Reports that focus group research among farm readers shows they want information that is not a commercial on the editorial pages they read. "Isn't it strange? The very credibility these folks crave is the first thing to disappear when publishers agree to relax their standards."
Posted at http://www.southeastfarmpress.com, Via online issue. 1 page., Intern at this farm journal writes about his discovery that ag sources of information are understanding.
