1 page., Author expresses concerns about disappearance of trustworthy news content and urges agricultural readers to be "cautious in whom you trust and what you believe in the 24/7 news cycle. We deserve to know all sides of a story, not just the one that the 'conservative' or 'liberal' media outlet wants you to believe."
Online from publisher. 2 pages., Author notes that the COVID-19 pandemic is creating stress for agri businesses concerned about how to communicate effectively with their audiences. Digital obstacles such as ad blocking software, email opt-outs, and spam fatigue have forced marketers to adjust strategies. "Direct mail may offer the best bang for the buck during this pandemic." Consumers can read it whenever they want, it offers more engagement of physical senses, and is a tangible product in their hands.
Via online issues. 2 pages., Author alerts readers to a move to "put the mapping for where service is needed in the hands of Connected Nation, a company representing big telecommunications companies."
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 174 Document Number: C29643
Notes:
3 pages., "In the place of our journalism becoming development journalism in the sense defined above, it has become 'envelope' journalism based on envelopes with press releases reaching newspaper offices."
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 178 Document Number: C35770
Notes:
"The Farm Journalist"series via online. 2 pages., Discusses agricultural journalists' use of new information technologies. "The challenge is not that of attempting to use all available technology but of selecting those parts offering the highest probability of working best for us."
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 182 Document Number: C36925
Notes:
Via SciDev.net. 2 pages., Director of the non-profit media organisation, TVE Asia Pacific, argues that "the media and development organizations are currently part of the problem."
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.
