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.
USA: University of California Press, Berkeley, California.
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Document Number: C21622
Notes:
237 pages, Includes a description of "Consumer Time," a radio program sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and produced by Donald E. Montgomery, consumer's counsel for USDA beginning in 1935. At that time, the USDA was the only government agency with an "official" position devoted to the concerns of the consumer. (p. 145). Another program, "Consumer Flashes," was part of the "National Farm and Home Hour" broadcast on NBC "Red" Network. Also includes (p. 47) statistics showing how lower-income listeners made up about 80% of the U.S. radio audience in 1940. Programs such as the "National Barn Dance" on WLS Radio, Chicago, were cited as especially popular.
