Getting AgWired Live TV Running at BASF Media Summit

Chuck Zimmerman

BASF Media Summit RegistrationThis is a picture of the elements that are making up AgWired Live TV now. On the tripod is a Canon HV30. I’ve been streaming live for about an hour now in the BASF Media Summit Media Room. This is where I’ll be set up again tomorrow. I’ll publish a schedule for you later so you’ll know the times that I’ll be on with someone. I think it’s going to be during the breaks.

As of the writing of this post I’m still live in the media room but I’m planning on shutting down soon so I can go to the reception and dinner.

BASF Media Event Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the BASF Media Summit is sponsored by:
BASF

BASF

BASF Media Summit A Reality

Chuck Zimmerman

BASF Media Summit RegistrationI am seriously glad I elected to arrive early into Washington, DC today for the BASF Media Summit. Although we don’t get started until this evening, registration was already set up and waiting when I got to the hotel.

All the rain and wind from the midwest this weekend is now here on the east coast. I hope all our other attendees make it in on time. It was pouring when we landed and it looks like the Potomac is almost over its banks.

I’ve started a photo album for the event which I’ll be adding to periodically so check it out and see if you know anyone who’s here. BASF Media Event Photo Album

After getting in a little work out I’m going to check out our media room set up and see if I can plan a schedule for AgWired Live TV tomorrow. I’ll post that later on.

AgWired coverage of the BASF Media Summit is sponsored by:
BASF

BASF, Media

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

Zimfo Bytes

  • Denise Donovan has joined the Ayres Kahler team as an account administrator and project manager. She is responsible for traffic, proofing and client service support. Prior to joining Ayres Kahler, Donovan spent 14 years in various marketing roles with MDS Pharma Services. Most recently she was the logistics manager for global marketing.
  • The Common Ground Alliance (CGA) has designated May 2008 as “National Safe Digging Month.” Deere & Company has joined with the CGA to recognize and actively promote this important event. To help homeowners and contractors have a resource to avoid the accidents ” 811, the national call-before-you-dig number.
  • Syngenta Crop Protection has partnered with five universities located in key potato regions to bring blight hotlines to potato growers in 2008. The potato blight hotlines are available by calling:
    • Idaho 1-800-791-7195
    • Michigan 1-888-379-9012
    • North Dakota 1-888-482-7286
    • Oregon 1-800-705-3377
    • Washington 1-800-984-7400.
Zimfo Bytes

Innovating With BASF

Chuck Zimmerman

ZimmCast-170 - Innovating With BASFTo 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 with me. Besides traditional ag journalists we’ll be getting to know some for more mainstream media as well. Ray says that the program features some key BASF executives like Dr. Stepfan Marcinowski, Executive Board Member, BASF SE and Dr. Hans Kast, President & CEO, BASF Plant Science Holding GmbH among others. We’re also going to hear from Bruce Knight, USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory programs. It’s going to be a full day on Tuesday.

Tomorrow evening sounds like fun though as we have a wine tasting that features Katja Schweder, 2006-2007 German Wine Queen. You can hear Ray talk about it and why BASF conducts this program in the program.

To go with a windy day in Missouri as this program was produced, this week’s program ends with music from the Podsafe Music Network. It’s called “Cold Haily Windy Night” by Silverwheel. I hope you enjoy it and thank you for listening.

You can download and listen to the ZimmCast here: Listen To ZimmCastZimmCast 170 (14 min MP3)

Or listen to this week’s ZimmCast right now:zimmcast170-5-11-08.mp3

The ZimmCast is the official weekly podcast of AgWired which you can subscribe to using the link in our sidebar. You can also subscribe in iTunes

AgWired coverage of the BASF Media Summit is sponsored by:
BASF

Audio, BASF, ZimmCast

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