While people in some of the traditional media are still trying to hold on to the good old days DTN is working hard to transition to the future. I haven’t seen them publish a farmer media usage study and yet they’re moving forward. I used to work there so I know it’s not any easier for them to change than anyone else. They were the cutting edge of information delivery with the satellite-delivered weather, market and news data. But people need to be mobile. That was always one problem with the “old system.” You had to be there in front of the monitor to get it. Now you don’t!
Celebs Protesting Ag Subsidies
New on Adjab today is a short note about an upcoming advertising campaign by Oxfam America to try to impact agricultural subsidies. According to the article celebrities like Minnie Driver and others will be doused with chocolate, coffee and other ingredients. It’s supposed to be a magazine campaign. I couldn’t see any mention of it on the Oxfam America website so I’m not sure where the information comes from. Adam says in his post, “The campaign is spurred in part by advocacy group Oxfam America which urges places like the United States to stop presenting cheap product to world markets which makes it difficult for smaller countries to compete.” So there you have it. I’m sure many people would like to see Minnie Driver wearing chocolate.
The story comes from the International Herald Tribune.
Welcome New NAFB Executive Director
Let’s welcome the new National Association of Farm Broadcasters executive director, Bill O’Neill! It’s his first day and here’s his letter to the membership.
Complete ABM Agri Council Study To Be Released At AMS
This is going to be my last post until I’m in Milwaukee. That’s because I’m driving and will be most of tomorrow. So I thought I’d get in one last post about the Ag Media Summit. One of the 3 main organizing groups, the American Business Media Agri Council, will be presenting the complete results of their media usage study next Tuesday. We pointed you to it recently and the webcast just touched on the highlights. I’ll try to get more details to provide you next week.
U.S. Farm Report Gets New Host
It looks like Orion Samuelson and Max Armstrong are making a big career change! Wonder what they’re going to do?
New Research Data From NAFB
There’s some new qualitative research available on the National Association of Farm Broadcasters website. A lot of research is being done these days by various media entities as groups try to figure out what’s really going on and how it’s going to affect their future. You can look at some slides from the research here. The survey was on Class 1+ farmers only and only in 12 midwest states. I wish it could have covered the whole country and included regional breakouts. But if wishes were . . . The research was conducted by Ag Media Research.
AAEA Members To See Strategic Plan At AMS
The American Agricultural Editors Association is one of the main sponsors of the upcoming Ag Media Summit. At the meeting members will be presented with a strategic plan that’s been in the works for a while. If you’re a member you should go to the AAEA website, read the plan and submit your comments or be prepared to talk about it at the meeting that will be held Aug. 3.
New ED For NAFB
The National Association of Farm Broadcasters (NAFB) officially announced their new Executive Vice President today. He’s Bill O’Neill. I think it’s very interesting to see a broadcast organization (that I’ve long belonged to) hire a “print” person. There are certainly challenges ahead for NAFB and maybe Bill can bring some new ideas to the organization to help them out! Look for an interview with Bill here as soon as I can get in touch with him. Gene, good job in the interim. I agree with Emery.
You Can Still Register For IFAJ Congress
Borrowing from the latest International Federation of Agricultural Journalists newsletter, “more than 180 journalists from 24 countries have registered to attend the 2005 IFAJ Congress in Switzerland next month.” That’s where we’ll be blogging the trip thanks to Pioneer Hi-Bred, our sponsor.
Farm Radio & Print In Florida
This week’s ZimmCast features Gary Cooper. No, not that Gary Cooper. Gary Cooper as in, president of Southeast AgNet & Citrus Industry magazine.