Author describes these trends that involve communications programs in colleges of agriculture, extension and research programs: mission creep (to more PR), abandoning our roots (in pursuit of high rankings), communication decentralization, professional slippage (off the faculty ladder), administrative disconnect (with communications leaders), insufficient funding for strategic marketing of colleges, lack of increased communication with nonfarm audiences.
"We are not going to reverse trends affecting our profession, but if we can see where they are going, we can position ourselves for the winning shot. This leads to the second point. We need to see the future clearly. I contend that many of the issues described by Whiting are in actuality indicators of two larger trends: an increasingly diverse audience and the need for universities to be more entrepreneurial." Author calls for communications departments and centers to think and act more collectively rather than individually.
Reisner, Ann (author / Assistant Professor of Agriculture, Department of Agriculture, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) and Assistant Professor of Agriculture, Department of Agriculture, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Format:
Journal article
Publication Date:
1990
Published:
USA
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 76 Document Number: C04138