You’ve probably seen this already but just in case you haven’t it’s worth knowing and noting. According to a survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press:
The internet, which emerged this year as a leading source for campaign news, has now surpassed all other media except television as a main source for national and international news.
Currently, 40% say they get most of their news about national and international issues from the internet, up from just 24% in September 2007. For the first time in a Pew survey, more people say they rely mostly on the internet for news than cite newspapers (35%). Television continues to be cited most frequently as a main source for national and international news, at 70%.
For young people, however, the internet now rivals television as a main source of national and international news. Nearly six-in-ten Americans younger than 30 (59%) say they get most of their national and international news online; an identical percentage cites television.
I realize you’re going to say, “But Chuck, that has nothing to do with “farm” news.” Au contraire. It has everything to do with farm news in my opinion. It says to me that if you want your news and information to reach your members and customers, then you need to be online in a search engine friendly environment. Unfortunately most websites are still built on old technology. Then you’ve got the corporate control factor that puts up barriers to freely and easily getting that information. This isn’t to say that traditional farm information channels don’t reach farmers but that there is a growing alternative where there is a huge amount of diversity and where farmers increasingly will go for the information they want and need.
I think this offers opportunities, not problems. Maybe a good new year resolution would be to have your company experiment with new media options!