New Media in Ag Journalism

Chuck Zimmerman

IFAJThe latest edition of the IFAJ E-News has some interesting information. Liz Kellaway is doing a great job with it and it’s got more information than ever. Here’s a couple of tidbits.

1. The last newsletter posed a member survey question, “What dangers do you face in your work as an agricultural journalist or editor?” Although not many responded here’s how the answers came out:

Budget cuts – 50%
No time to look ahead – 42%
Failing to try new ideas – 25%
Media convergence – 25%
Losing journalistic integrity – 25%
Emergence of new media – blogs, internet news sites, etc. – 25%
Physical dangers – 17%
Freedom of expression – 8%
Other dangers – 8%

How would you have responded? Do these results surprise you? Of course I see the emergence of new media as an opportunity as opposed to a danger but I understand why some would feel differently.

2. There’s another article on The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, which has a staff of 75 rural reporters. It’s recognized by Guinness Book of Records because it’s such a long running program (60 years). What’s interesting to me is how they’re using technology to stay “relevant.”

Increasingly, our efforts are being directed to our online activities and we’ve just begun the process to do a complete re-build of our ABC Rural online site. By later this year, people anywhere will be able to gain access to an even greater array of the material our journalists produce, including live streaming of programs, podcasts, pictures, video, written text and hopefully a range of new services which will be delivered to people’s personal phones.

Live streaming and phone delivery. Got it.

IFAJ, International

Send Your AgWired Tee Picture

Chuck Zimmerman

Taisir YanisI know a lot of you have an “I’ve Been Blogged by AgWired” t-shirt. Send in your picture so I can show off some of our fine community members.

This one is Taisir Yanis, owner of The Coffee Zone, in Jefferson City, MO. He’s a Rocket Fuel dealer. If you’re in town just go to 130 E. High Street for the best coffee.

He’s got good wifi, which is what I’m using right now.

Uncategorized

Teen Chefs Battle in Las Vegas

Laura McNamara

Regional contests have whittled down the nation’s most culinary competent teens. The most capable cooks will compete in the final round of the Best Teen Chef 2008 Competition on May 17th at the Art Institute in Las Vegas.

Top prize winners in the Competition can win a full-tuition scholarship toward an associate’s degree, certificate or diploma program to study Culinary Arts at one of the more than 30 participating Art Institutes locations.

In addition to a full-tuition scholarship and the title of Best Teen Chef 2008, the first place winner in the national competition, in partnership with Food Network, will be an “Intern for a Day” at the Food Network Kitchens in New York City. The winner will also receive a tour of the Food Network Studios, dinner for two at a Food Network chef’s restaurant and a library of Food Network Kitchens cookbooks.

Competitors will all receive the same ingredients and will use identical equipment to craft their individual version of Braciole Calabresi — Stuffed Pork Bundles; Peperonata — Peppers Sauteed with Olive Oil; and Capers and Orechietti con Carciofl — Orechietti Pasta with Artichokes during the timed competition.

Food

Nolan Ryan Introduces ‘Never, Ever’ Beef

Laura McNamara

Even Nolan Ryan agrees that all beef is nutritious. But, the former ball player says his beef is a cut above the rest. That’s because he says his company offers what consumers are looking for at the meat case.

This USDA-certified Choice line is produced with consumers and their families in mind. This premium line is free from antibiotics and added hormones. Cattle are exclusively fed an all-vegetarian diet.

Nolan Ryan’s Premium Reserve is being introduced in Kroger Southwest locations in the Dallas and Houston metro areas. In addition, Nolan Ryan’s Guaranteed Tender Beef continues to be available for retail and foodservice. Most recently it was named the “Official Beef of the Texas Rangers” and is being served at Rangers Stadium.

Hey… what could go better than beef n’ baseball?

Beef, Food

Derry Brownfield Show Going “More” Independent

Chuck Zimmerman

Derry BrownfieldI’ve been asked a few times lately what the story is with The Derry Brownfield Show and Learfield Communications but was waiting to write about it until I had more information. Here’s Derry enjoying a great party out at his cabin last weekend.

Probably most of you know that Derry Brownfield and Clyde Lear started Learfield Communications many moons ago. I joined the team as manager of the Brownfield Network after Clyde had bought Derry’s interest in the company. It was while I was there that we started Derry’s talk show. In fact, Cindy gets credit for the idea and I worked out the formatting and helped get the first list of affiliated radio stations. I’m planning to do an interview with Derry soon so we can reminisce about those good old days.

Apparently Learfield Communications will no longer be supporting the talk show and I really don’t know anything more than you can read online. You can read about it directly on Clyde’s company blog.

His last show will be in the middle of May. The “Common Sense Coalition” grinds to a halt on our system, but likely will continue with a new ownership group.

Today I was pointed to some more information you can find on a website I’m not familiar with called AgLine News. It was written by (AlterNet.com) Russell Mokhiber and was first posted on Corporate Crime Reporter.

I’m fairly certain that Brownfield Network clients know that Derry’s show has been independent of the farm radio network. However, the public perception has always been different. Derry has always been very outspoken and opinionated. In fact, he’s a self described mean spirited, politically incorrect, cantankerous old so and so. But he’s a good friend and one of my favorite people to hang out with. I love how it says in the “AgLine News” article that other people at Learfield were afraid to talk to him. I always found Derry open and easy to talk with.

Derry is an industry icon and one that has many more years of service to give. I’m looking forward to seeing what happens next and I’m betting you’ll be able to find out here soon.

Media

Media Buyers Revenge

Chuck Zimmerman

Intergi GameHere’s something for all you ag media buyers out there. Tired of the sales calls? Pick up a Colt, Lazer or M16 and take care of those bothersome pests. Courtesy of Intergi, it’s the Intergi Shooters Game.

Intergi is the premier gaming site representation company that serves customers on a global scale. With years of experience in the gaming community and the largest reach online, we are a driving force in the game society. Our diverse online presence allows us to stay tapped into a variety of our core audience’s needs, and also provides our clients with a number of advertising venues to reach the gamer in everyone.

Via AdRants.

Agencies

Quick and Easy Beef

Laura McNamara

Chatel Farms Beef CrumblesChatel Farms wants to give consumers the beef without, well, causing too much of a beef. The Georgia-based company is now offering Beef Crumbles, or, 100 percent pure ground beef packaged in ready-to-use, re-sealable portions. Chatel Farms offers two varieties: 80 percent lean or 85 percent lean.

The Crumbles are flash frozen and crumbled using an innovative proprietary technology providing consumers quality ingredients in convenient sizes.

Simply pre-heat a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, add frozen Beef Crumbles directly into the pan and cook while stirring for approximately two minutes. Then add your favorite sauces and seasonings and you’re well on your way to serving up a wholesome, tasty dish for you or the entire family.

Chatel Farms Beef Crumbles are now available at Wal-Mart stores nationwide and in participating Kroger stores.

Beef, Food

NAFB 2008 Producer Media-Use Study – 1st Wave

Chuck Zimmerman

National Association of Farm BroadcastingThe National Association of Farm Broadcasting has just released some initial results (pdf file) from the first segment of their new producer media use study. I think you should take note of how important text messages are to producers. That really stands out to me. Same for web-based information. The word “grown” is key. It’s growing!

The fact that farmers value radio so high on a daily basis is something that I’ve always understood. Farmers are about as mobile as anyone else and the radio is a convenient source of news and information. I just wish more radio stations carried farm programming.

While Web-based information use among the nation’s largest agricultural producers and ranchers has grown, thanks to increased access to high-speed Internet connections, radio remains the primary and most-used source of daily agribusiness information.

This is according to the National Association of Farm Broadcasting, based on the first “wave” data from its ongoing comprehensive 2008 National Producer Media-Use Wave Study. The survey, which includes in-depth interviews with three distinct samples of 800 national Class 1A producers and ranchers in each sample, comes 10 years after a 1998-99 “wave study” sponsored by NAFB. Class 1A producers have $100,000+ in sales/gross farm income.

Trailing radio in importance as a source of daily agribusiness information – based on the
first sampling wave conducted in February – are Web sites, television, and cell phone text
messages, in order.

Farming, NAFB

How Hot Dogs Are Made

Chuck Zimmerman

I’ve never really had a major interest in how hot dogs are made. They’re just plain good to eat and that’s good enough for me. I kind of like the ones that fill up the bun. Add some relish, mustard, ketchup, onions, cheese, banana peppers and you’ve got yourself a gourmet meal on a bun. The American Meat Institute has started a channel on YouTube to answer questions that you may have about things like hot dogs. They just released a couple of videos on this subject.

Meat News Network is dedicated to providing consumers and the media with timely, credible information about the meat and poultry industry and the products we produce.

Meat News Network is produced by the American Meat Institute, the nation’s oldest and largest trade association representing U.S. meat and poultry packers and processors. Together, our members produce more than 95 percent of U.S. beef, pork, lamb, veal and more than 70 percent of U.S. turkey.


Have you started your online video channel yet?

Ag Groups, Video

Medwick joins Learfield

Melissa Sandfort

Learfield Communications, Inc. announces Kelly Medwick is joining Nebraska Radio Network and Brownfield, Ag News for America as the new Account Executive in Lincoln, Neb.

“Kelly is a great addition to our team,” said Stan Koenigsfeld, President, Learfield News. �Her enthusiasm and Director of Marketing experience make her a great asset to our team and clients in Nebraska.�

As Account Executive for Nebraska Radio Network and Brownfield, Ag News for America, Medwick will help marketers develop and implement effective campaigns to achieve their organizational goals.

Before joining Learfield, she was the Associate VP of Communications for Nebraska Children and Families Foundation, where she developed strategic marketing, branding and public awareness campaigns. Medwick also worked with multiple state and non-profit entities on collaborative outreach programs.

Media