Our hosts for this evening’s dinner and wine tasting were (l-r) Katja Schweder and Bernhard Wolff, BASF Wine Cellar. Katja was German Wine Queen in 2006-2007. I interviewed them prior to dinner and learned that BASF has a wine cellar with 1 million bottles of wine, including over 4,000 kinds of wine. Picking a selection to go with menu items …
Innovating With BASF
To build strong relationships with journalists BASF is once again conducting a media summit in Washington, DC. This year the theme is “Innovate 08, From Research to Reality.” I got a preview of the program from Ray Gilmer, Group Communications Manager, BASF by phone. He’s already there getting ready for the dozens of media representatives who will be attending along …
Learn About TOCA
Right after my presentation on new media here at the TOCA meeting the next session featured editors and public relations people. They discussed the relationship dynamics between the two groups. My presentation went okay even though I didn’t have internet access. Don’t ask me how but it got done. It’s kind of a challenge though when everything we do and …
Milk Producers With Issues
At the National Association of Farm Broadcasting Washington Watch program there is a session called the Issues Forum in which ag groups make representatives available for interviews. During this session I interviewed Sarah Olson, Communications Coordinator, National Milk Producers Federation. Sarah is relatively new to NMPF and says that as they look to the future, communications will change. For example, …
USDA Census of Ag PSA
At NAFB’s Washington Watch we all received psa’s from NASS for the 2007 Census of Agriculture. You can listen to Sec. of Ag Schafer voice one of them here: usda-census-psa.mp3 I’m curious if any radio stations or networks use these. It was my experience before getting out of farm broadcasting on air that psa’s didn’t get used much. Is it …
Senator Harkin is Hopeful
This morning NAFB members are getting fully updated on the farm bill as well as other issues here in the Russell Bldg. First up on our program was Iowa Senator Tom Harkin, who was looking a little tired as he took the podium. The Senator told us that he expects (hopes/dreams) that we’ll actually have a farm bill by today …
Secretary of Ag Schafer Addressing NAFB
Okay, this is my last post with Secretary Schafer here at the NAFB Washington Watch. While I was streaming it live, taking stills and recording audio I also shot a video clip so you can see what the room is like when we meet here in the USDA board room. I know there’s a story about the huge table that …
Political Commentary From Jennifer Duffy
NAFB members heard from Jennifer Duffy, The Cook Political Report, at dinner this evening. Jennifer says she started covering this year’s election in early 2006 and she’s going to be ready for a 3 month vacation after it’s over. I spoke to her prior to dinner and learned that her job is to analyze and try to figure out the …
NAFB Issues Forum
I really don’t think Ken Root, WHO, is kneeling at the altar of wheat here but it is a different way to do an interview. He’s one of the many farm broadcasters here at the NAFB Washington Watch who participated in this afternoon’s Issues Forum session. Various commodity groups attend with representatives who can talk about issues pertinent to their …
NAFB Leaders Watching Washington
The National Association of Farm Broadcasting leadership took a few minutes after the opening meeting of their annual Washington Watch program to talk with me about the event. Pictured here (l-r) are Randy Koenen, Red River Farm Network, Pam Jahnke, Fabulous Farm Babe and Greg Akagi, Kansas Ag Network. Randy explains what happens at a Washington Watch, which includes a …