The National Association of Farm Broadcasting is holding its annual Washington Watch program this week. Here’s the happy smiling group with our U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. These agricultural journalists get to spend a couple days hearing from various elected and appointed officials with plenty of time to conduct interviews. I’ve enjoyed all the programs I’ve attended over the …
Canadian Farm Writers Going to the Island
This year the Canadian Farm Writers’ Federation Annual Conference is going to be hosted by the Atlantic Canada Farm Writers’ Association. That means we’ll be on Prince Edward Island, known as “the Island.” The conference will take place October 2-5. In addition to having a great conference we’ll be helping celebrate the Prince Edward Island Sesquicentennial. Plans include a long …
More on IFAJ and the FAO Agreement
As announced earlier this week, the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists has signed an agreement with the FAO. Signing for IFAJ was current President, Marcus Rediger. This morning I spoke with Marcus via Skype and we talked about the agreement and what it means to IFAJ members (AAEA members here in the U.S.). Information from the FAO will be featured …
IFAJ Signs Agreement with FAO
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 …
Philippine Agricultural Journalists Elects New Leaders
Thanks to IFAJ for sharing the fact that the Philippine Agricultural Journalists, Inc. or PAJ recently elected a new set of officers. This followed its recent general assembly, held at the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) Auditorium, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines. Elected president for the sixth time is Roman Floresca, business editor of The Philippine Star. Other elected officers include Noel …
End of the USDA Telephone Newsline
This week will mark the end of an era as the USDA Radio Newsline will no longer be available via the telephone starting tomorrow. I can remember recording that newsline on a reel-to-reel machine just like this one when I first started in the business back in 1980. At that time, the newsline was also sent out on small reel-to-reel …
Google Glass Intern
This past week at the NAMA convention, I was lucky enough to try the infamous Google Glass. Needless to say, I fell in love with it. I am sure for the first ten minutes I looked like an idiot trying to figure it out, but I got the hang of it. While I was wearing them, all I could think …
Happy Birthday ZimmComm!
ZimmComm New Media is officially ten years old at this year’s NAMA conference so we are happily celebrating with all of our agri-marketing friends. Here to help us at the booth are (LtoR) niece Hayley DeRuiter, Google Glass Guru Bruce Rasa, me and Chuck, intern Kristin Liska, sales guy Dave Larson, and nephew Hunter DeRuiter. We have birthday cake, Glass …
Brownfield Goes Honky Tonk for NAMA Party
The famous Brownfield Ag News NAMA party will be a Honky Tonk affair here in Jacksonville this evening after the trade show closes. The venue is Mavericks at The Landing, which is just a short walk from the hotel. The fun starts at 9:00 pm and goes until midnight and of course the ZimmComm photo crew will be there to …
The Big O is 8-0!
It was a big celebration last week when NAFB past president and long time WGN Radio farm broadcaster, Orion Samuelson turned 80. Orion has been on WGN Radio for 53 and a half years. Yes, the half counts! As a young girl growing up in Illinois, I have listened to Orion report the numbers, listened to his noon shows with …