2 pages., Research summary via online from the North American Association for Environmental Education., Researchers interviewed 11 environmental or science journalism educators from four-year institutions and identified four common challenges: (1) keeping up with technology, (2) student interest, (3) environmental advocacy among students; and (4) lack of potential careers in the field. They suggested pre-requisites.
Report based on data from a study among 3,757 students attending 18 institutions. Students who have chosen banking, dentistry, music and government service were found to be more conservative whereas the liberal attitudes were found among those planning on journalism, social work, law, and agriculture. The attitudes most favorable toward the college attended were found among students choosing such vocations as ministry, banking, teaching, and social service. The least favorable attitudes were indicated by the groups choosing aviation, agriculture, journalism, and music. It is possible that these unfavorable attitudes may be due in part to the inability of these 18 institutions to meet adequately the needs of students planning to enter aviation, agriculture, journalism, and music.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 201 Document Number: D11827
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Printed pages in ACDC file include only the cover, abstract, citation details, and discussion section., Thesis in partial fulfillment of a Master's thesis, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas., The purpose of this study was to determine Texas Public Relations Association(TPRA) members' perception of the word agriculture and how that perception influences perceptions of the skills and qualifications of graduates from agricultural communications and journalism (AGCJ) programs. A researcher-developed electronic questionnaire was used for data collection. Of accessible population of 148 TPRA members, 83 responded to the questionnaire, yielding a response rate of 56.08%.This descriptive study found that TPRA members did not have a negative perception of agriculture or the AGCJ major, but there was a lack of awareness of the AGCJ major and respondents had low self-perceived agricultural knowledge. Writing, interpersonal skills, public relations, editing, and media relations were considered to be the five most important skills in the public relations profession; however, AGCJ graduates were perceived to be only somewhat competent in these skills. Respondents ranked AGCJ as seventh of eight majors according to how well prepared graduates were perceived to be for entry-level public relations positions. Results indicated a positive correlation between awareness of the AGCJ major and perception of the major; therefore, the lack of awareness influenced the less positive perception of the major.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 169 Document Number: C28484
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Via "For Ag Journalists" 3 pages., Author examines the credentials needed by agricultural journalists, especially as related to their understanding of agriculture and rural values.
