Welcome to the first formal edition of the IFAJ E-News. This electronic newsletter has been developed by the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ) to help improve services for our members around the globe. The IFAJ E-News will be produced bi-monthly. In the past, more than 10,000 people have received the traditional IFAJ News, which we plan to continue once a year as a special annual publication. We hope this new electronic newsletter will go to even more people and help keep our members informed on a more regular basis. We would love to know what you think about the concept and any suggestions you may have for future content.

You can contact editor Liz Kellaway by emailing lizkel@bigpond.net.au

¨ Vote taken on first South American member nation

The IFAJ Executive has voted to accept Argentina as a new member. The recommendation must now be ratified by delegates at the next General Assembly, due to be held in Norway during the annual IFAJ Congress.

¨ Increased prize money for international writing award

The total prize pool for the IFAJ Star Prize for Agricultural Journalism will double in 2006, with 1000 Euros now being offered. The winner of the international award for agricultural journalism, sponsored by John Deere, will receive 750 Euros and a Waterford crystal trophy. For the first time, a cash prize of 250 Euros will be given to the runner-up. Entrants must be nominated by their national guilds. Winners will be announced at the IFAJ Congress in Norway in August.

For more information, go to http://www.ifaj.org/publications/IFAJ_Awards.pdf

¨ Entries close June 15 for international photography prize

As in previous years, the 2006 IFAJ Star Prize for Agricultural Photography, sponsored by De Laval, is open to individuals to enter. Photos must show an on-farm production subject. All entries must have been published as editorial material in 2005. Any member of a national association or guild that is a member of the IFAJ may enter the awards, which will also be announced in Norway.

For more information, go to http://www.ifaj.org/photocontest/index.html

¨ New IFAJ award coordinators

The Star Prizes have two new coordinators, taking over from former IFAJ President Paul Queck, who has retired from the role after four years of service. Swedish IFAJ delegate and freelance journalist Marina Tell is coordinating the journalism award and new German national delegate Katharina Seuser is running the photography award.

To find out more about both women go to http://www.ifaj.org/publications/Star_Prize_coordinators.pdf

¨ Survey shows international networks valued by members

The role of the IFAJ in building relationships between countries is one of the benefits most valued by members, according to a major survey. The survey of IFAJ member countries was designed to help the organisation find out more about the kinds of services its members are seeking. Membership Committee chair, Hans Siemes talks about the findings which also highlighted that members are keen for the organisation to be both enlarged and strengthened.

¨ New link with IFAP

The IFAJ is building better links with the International Federation of Agricultural Producers (IFAP). IFAP Communications Coordinator Julie Emond spoke at the IFAJ Executive Meeting in Berlin in January. The organisations discussed how the IFAP and the IFAJ can work more closely together, and encourage better collaboration between agricultural journalists involved with both organisations.

The IFAP’s World Farmer publication will be circulated to national IFAJ delegates so they can pass it on to members in each country. IFAJ members have also been invited to attend the World Farmers’ Congress in May in Seoul. The IFAP is looking at ways to circulate news from the Congress to journalists unable to attend the event.

To view the latest World Farmer visit the IFAP website go to –

English: http://www.ifap.org/en/publications/documents/WorldFarmer_Jan-February2006.pdf ;

French: http://www.ifap.org/fr/publications/documents/Agri-Monde_janvier-fevrier2006.pdf ;

Spanish: http://www.ifap.org/es/publications/documents/AgrielMundo_enero-febrero2006.pdf

¨ Irish rower proves superior

A 58-year-old member of the Guild of Agricultural Journalists of Ireland has become the first man to row the entire 400-mile length of Lake Superior, the largest freshwater lake in the world. It is the third rowing odyssey for Ian Harvey, who was raising funds for charity. His latest effort was featured in a television documentary on BBC Northern Ireland. The row has so far raised is 31,100 pounds sterling (about US $50,000) for Children in Need and 17,000 pounds (close to US $30,000) for Fields of Life.

To read more about Ian’s endeavours and out how you can help increase the total go to http://www.ifaj.org/publications/Irish_rowing_effort.pdf

¨ Agri journalism in the Phillipines comes of age

Agriculture journalism in the Philippines has come of age, contributing significantly to the country’s efforts to push farther the frontiers of national development, according to a recent report by Rudy A Fernandez in Phillipine Headline News Online, October 2005. To read the full report go to http://www.ifaj.org/publications/Agrijournalism_in_the_Phillipines.pdf

¨ Book now and feed your senses in Norway

The IFAJ will celebrate its 50^th anniversary this year with a very special congress in Europe’s northern most country, Norway. “Feed your senses” is the theme for the event, to be held at Hamar on the shore of Norway’s biggest lake, Mjøsa, from August 12 to 16. IFAJ members keen to attend are encouraged to book as soon as possible. Early discounts finish on March 31.

“We intend to feed your senses of sight, sound, smell, taste and touch with interesting and topical information about Norway’s multifunctional and innovative agriculture and agribusiness,” says organising committee president Mari Bjorke. “And we want to leave impressions of our beautiful nature, food and other cultural experiences, as well as making it possible for you to network with journalists from all over the world!”

Go to http://www.ifaj.org/publications/Norway_congress_update.pdf to read more about the event or visit the congress website at www.ifaj2006.com

¨ New cheaper pre congress tour announced

A new lower-cost tour has been added to the package of pre and post congress tours available to those planning to attend the 2006 IFAJ Congress in Norway. Organisers have also negotiated a lower cost for the original pre-congress tour.

Go to http://www.ifaj.org/publications/Norway_congress_update.pdf to read more or visit the congress website at www.ifaj2006.com

¨ Lone Star State gets ready for IFAJ

Organisers of the 2009 IFAJ Congress in the United States have settled on Fort Worth, Texas, as the best location for the event. According to organising committee chair Mike Wilson, the decision was based on several factors, including the wide diversity of nearby agriculture, the unique western cowboy culture found in the region and proximity to a major airport (Dallas). The conference will coincide with the annual Ag Media Summit - the annual meeting of the American Agricultural Editors Association and Livestock Publications Council. “This will enable us to provide international guests with some distinct advantages, including a wide array of professional development seminars,” Wilson said. “Of course we will also be holding all of the important IFAJ events and tour experiences that make each Congress unique. “

¨ New IFAJ website features

A series of new features is being developed for the official IFAJ website in an effort to make it a more useful resource for members around the world, as the website becomes an increasingly important source of timely information for members. Human interest or issue-oriented features on IFAJ members or issues are being added to the site, and there is a new member forum section.

The forums offer opportunities to share information and seek ideas on a range of topics. The IFAJ Communications Committee also has plans to build a ‘hot topic’ feature to provide names and contact information for people in member countries who can help journalists researching emerging issues such as world trade negotiations and the Avian bird flu.

Members with suggestions and contributions are encouraged to contact Mike Wilson at mwilson@farmprogress.com

¨ Trust, bias and fairness of sources key issue for media

What do journalists think about information source trustworthiness, bias and fairness in communicating agricultural biotechnology issues? Fifty Texas journalists and 40 national agriculture journalists representing newspapers and television media responded to a recent study carried out by the Texas A&M University in the United States. Respondents believed university scientists/researchers and newspapers were trustworthy, unbiased and fair, while activist groups were untrustworthy, completely biased and unfair in communicating agricultural biotechnology issues. They were most opposed to public opinion outweighing scientists’ opinions when making decisions about scientific research.

To find out more about the survey go to

www.agbioforum.org/v8n4/v8n4a03-wingenbach.htm

¨ African women steal the show

South African agricultural journalists have honoured leading commercial and emerging farmers from around the country in their annual awards ceremony at Centurion. Stealing the show was emerging farmer Anna Bock, a 69-year-old widow who has remained undaunted despite drought and lack of grazing as she tends 700 Dorper sheep and 40 head of cattle in what must be some of the harshest farming conditions in the world. To read more, go to http://www.ifaj.org/publications/African_women_steal_the_show.pdf

¨ Editor wins German communication award

The German Federation of Agricultural Journalists (VDAJ) has honoured Manuela Mayr for her reports about agriculture in the public press. EU Commissioner for Agriculture, Mariann Fischer Boel presented her with the 2006 VDAJ Communication Award during International Green Week in Berlin in January.

To read more about the award go to http://www.ifaj.org/publications/VDAJ_Communication_Award_2006.pdf

¨ IFAJ president visits Sweden

IFAJ President David Markey was a special guest at the annual meeting of the Swedish guild earlier this month. Guild members were delighted with the visit, even though it was disrupted by confirmation, on the same day, of Sweden’s first case of BSE. Markey spoke about the IFAJ, what the organisation can do for Swedish journalists, and how agricultural journalists can work internationally.

National delegate Marina Tell writes about the event… http://www.ifaj.org/publications/Markey_visits_Sweden.pdf

¨ IFAJ World Round-up

Read more about the activities of agricultural media guilds and members around the world – http://www.ifaj.org/publications/World_round-up_mw_edits.pdf

¨ Getting to know our guilds – Nepal

The media sector is blooming in Nepal where the average farm covers little more than one hectare, and farming is about subsistence even though it accounts for 42% of the GDP. Nepal was accepted into the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ) in 2003 when a small group of journalists and editors got together to establish the Nepal Agricultural Journalists Association.

Kathmandu-based delegate Prashant Kumar Aryal explains the work of one of our youngest members and the role of agriculture in his country… http://www.ifaj.org/publications/About_our_guild-Nepal.pdf

This newsletter has been prepared by the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ) which represents journalists, photographers, broadcasters, designers and professional communicators focussing on all aspects of agriculture, including food production. The IFAJ aims to promote professional excellence, provide a valuable professional network, and contribute to a better understanding between agricultural industries and all other sectors of the community.

For more information about the IFAJ, visit www.ifaj.org