Hey AAEA members. What do you think about this new agreement between the IFAJ and FAO? Interested to hear your thoughts. Including from any NAFB, NAAJ or LPC members.
Many people know that I’m not a big fan of the FAO but I do believe that agreements like this are worthwhile so that the main goal of IFAJ on behalf of its membership is accomplished. Taking it as an example should organizations like the AAEA be creating contractual type agreements here in the USA? Listen to IFAJ President Marcus Rediger talk about the agreement below.
FAO and the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ) are joining forces to promote wider global sharing of agricultural information and better highlight FAO’s activities in specialized agricultural media worldwide.
An agreement signed today by FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva and IFAJ President Markus Rediger outlines various joint activities to be undertaken by FAO and the 3,000+ journalists represented by the 32 national associations that form the IFAJ.
The partnership aims at enhancing knowledge exchange and content publishing related to global hunger and food security, nutrition, sustainable development and the responsible management of fishery and forestry resources, among other issues.
“Partnering with specialized agricultural media can play a critical role in informing the general public and target audiences that together, we can transform the lives of those who suffer from chronic hunger and food insecurity – and that it can be done in our lifetime,” said Graziano da Silva at the signing ceremony.
Under the terms of the agreement, FAO information – including press releases, reports and editorial articles – will be disseminated among IFAJ members to help journalists create public awareness on the necessary actions to end hunger.
This agreement also will feature jointly-organized events and the opening of a FAO news section on IFAJ’s website with extensive information on food and agriculture issues and trends.
A joint FAO/IFAJ award will be created to recognize the work of journalists who significantly contribute to raising awareness on the crucial importance of fighting hunger. “This project will inspire our colleagues to write about these themes that are basic for world agriculture,” Rediger said.
The new partnership also foresees advocacy events related to the International Year of Family Farming (2014) and other UN International Years related to FAO’s mandate.