Edison Research and Arbitron have produced some very interesting new data (pdf) on media usage. Some tidbits that stood out for me include:
- 43% of Americans are aware of podcasts and 20% have listened to them
- Internet access from any location is now approaching 9 in 10 Americans
- Dial-up is down to less than 1 in 6 homes with internet access
- Growth of iPod/portable MP3 players continues in 35-64 age demo
- Digital radio audience continues to listen to AM/FM radio
Americans are increasingly enhancing their use of traditional media with new ways to control how, when and where they consume information and entertainment
Use of online radio, online video, podcasting, and iPod/MP3 players are on the rise
Consumers say flexibility, control and variety drive their use of online and portable media options
Although I can’t say Earth Day gets me very excited the idea that a lot of people may be wearing some soybean underpants, well, you decide. These are 
The definition of the word “Novus” is new – and that describes 
It is time for another edition of “Guess Whose Boots.”
Cindy and I are in post-NAMA recovery. However, we may be physically tired but we’re emotionally charged. Those of you in agricultural marketing and communications will be too once you hear this week’s program which features an interview with Curt Blades, 
As you would expect, farmer use of the internet as a source of news and information has skyrocketed and this study provides further documentation of that fact. Curt says the study is projectable and provides breakouts for age and income demographics. Once again it shows that the higher the farm income level, the higher the use of the internet. He says they also found that high speed internet access is much more widespread than many think. I think you’ll enjoy hearing about this new study of farmer media use habits.
Today’s world insists that people have a diverse set of knowledge if they want to keep pace with all of the changes around them. Whether you are a major agri-business or a blogger trying to figure out how to put a photo set on Flickr (oh, thank you great Chuck One of Blogging Knowledge!), the more you know, the better.
While the students taking part in the Novus International Undergraduate Networking Day got lots of practical advice and a firsthand look at the operations of some of the biggest and best agri-businesses in the world in the form of Novus, Pfizer and Monsanto (all conveniently located in the St. Louis area, some of the most valuable education these Missouri Colleges Fund scholarship recipients got was the intangible advice handed down.
A common theme that the Missouri Colleges Fund student scholars heard during the Novus International Undergraduate Networking Day was that many people start down one career path toward a destination but end up somewhere they never expected. Folks like Vanessa Stewart and Judy Lamb talked to the students about how their lives started out in one job and winded and turned until they ended up where they are today. Vanessa starting in the lab and ending up currently working on the business sales end of the company… Judy once working for a major brewery and now in charge of Novus’ product registration. These twists and turns and how you have to be ready for what life deals you has not been lost on the bright scholars touring the facilities at Novus, Pfizer and Monsanto.