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Welcome to the second edition of 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 is produced bi-monthly. We would love to know what you think about the newsletter and any suggestions you may have for future content. You can contact editor Liz Kellaway by emailing lizk@porternovellisa.com.au
| Internet broadcast shows Dutch journalists at work |
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A press conference involving members of the Dutch association of agricultural and horticultural journalists (NVLJ) has been broadcast on the internet for the first time. Every year the NVLJ works with Rabobank, the international food and agri-bank, to organize a press conference so directors can answer questions about financial issues in the agricultural sector. Normally people then read about news from the press conference in newspapers and magazines or hear it on the radio. This time Rabobank employees could also watch the press conference on Rabobank TV, broadcast on the internet. The broadcast was delayed several days so the media could publish the stories first.
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| Honour for IFAJ stalwart |
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IFAJ regional vice president for Africa and long-time supporter of the organisation, Reg Weiss, has been honoured for his contributions to agriculture and specifically the South African dairy industry during 58 years in active journalism. Western Cape Editor of the Dairy Mail in South Africa, Weiss was honoured at the South African Dairy Championships dinner held at Stellenbosch. To read more click here.
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| New education partnership to benefit IFAJ members |
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A pilot project has been set up with the internationally-recognized Agricultural Communications Documentation Centre (ACDC) to expand professional development opportunities and resources for IFAJ members. As a part of the project, the IFAJ will work with the centre to enhance what is thought to be the largest collection of agricultural communications literature in the world. Read more here or click here to visit the centre's website.
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| So now you're a freelancer... |
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Going freelance is a little like getting on the roller coaster at an amusement park - there's excitement and the promise of new experiences, along with a healthy dose of fear. But freelancing isn't all fun and games. United States journalist Steve Werblow shares some tips if you click here.
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| Danes elect first woman chair |
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It took 100 years but the Danish Guild has elected its first female chairperson. Gudrun Andreasen was elected at this year's annual meeting following the resignation of Torsten Buhl after five years in the role. Andreasen was formerly chief information officer of Danish Crown, Denmark's major slaughterhouse chain. She changed jobs a few months ago to become coordinating editor of Dagbladsgruppen, a private company which issues several farm magazines.
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| Register now for US summit |
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It's time to register for the U.S. Agricultural Media Summit, sponsored by the American Ag Editors' Association (AAEA) and the Livestock Publications Council. The professional improvement program and AAEA business meeting are planned for Portland, Oregon, from July 23 to 26. Early registrations can be made until June 30. For full details about the event click here.
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| African initiative aims to help rural journalists |
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An initiative to establish networks of agricultural journalists in Africa is being supported by the IFAJ. Media for Environmental and Agricultural Development (MEAD) is working to give journalists the opportunity to exchange experiences and the IFAJ's membership committee is talking with MEAD to see if there is potential for the two organizations to work together. To find out more about this exciting initative click here.
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| Slovakia - a labratory for change |
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After the fall of the communist regime in what was then Czechoslovakia, the country's new leaders opened the door to the world. But has the world taken any notice, and what has changed in the new Slovakia's agricultural sector. Jozef Sedlak, chairman of the national club for agricultural journalists explores the issues and throws down a challenge for his colleagues in other countries - click here.
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| Internet conferences help Argentinian journalists |
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The IFAJ's first South American member, the Argentinian Circle of Agricultural Journalists (Circulo Argentino de Periodistas Agrarios, or CAPA) is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year with an active program of training and events for members. Internet media conferences, courses and a new competition are among the activities attracting younger members, according to spokesperson Mercedes Colombres. To learn more about CAPA click here.
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| Ag editor first to win major US award |
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Pam Henderson, crops and issues editor of Farm Journal, in the United States, has become the first agricultural journalist to be awarded the prestigious Grand Neal Award in its 50-year history. The award is the premier prize given during the annual Jesse H. Neal National Business Journalism Awards for editorial achievement, described as the 'Pulitzer Prizes' of business-to-business journalism. Henderson was chosen from 32 category winners and more than 1,250 entries in the competition which is run by American Business Media (ABM). The winning nine-article series explored the discovery of Asian soybean rust in the U.S. The stories are published at www.agweb.com. Read Pam's full story here.
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| Belgium offers to host 2010 congress |
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A proposal for the 2010 IFAJ congress to take place in Belgium has been enthusiastically received. The general assembly of Belgium's Association of Agricultural Journalists (ABJA-BVLJ) has voted by a large majority in favour of making the offer. Subject to final confirmation at the next meeting of the IFAJ executive committee in Norway in August, this means that preparations are now in hand for the next fiveannual events, according to host country liaison committee chair James Campbell.
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| Planning in hand for 2009 IFAJ congress |
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A committee charged with advance planning for the 2009 IFAJ Congress has begun work organizing the event, scheduled to be held in Fort Worth, Texas, from July 29 to August 5. The IFAJ Congress will also join, in part, with the annual Agricultural Media Summit, sponsored by the American Ag Editors' Association (AAEA) and the Livestock Publications Council. According to spokesman Greg Lamp, the U.S. committee is excited about IFAJ coming to the 'Lone Star' state, so "expect plenty of Texas hospitality, buckaroos".
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| Success sweeter than honey for African women |
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South Africa's leading agricultural weekly, Landbouweekblad, is working to highlight the entrepreneurial skills of rural women who are acting as catalysts for growth in the country's economy, Reg Weiss reports when you click here.
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| Diverse works win Japanese ag media awards |
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Seeing a bear in a rural town is not rare in Japan where more than two thirds of the land is covered by forest. But seeing bears for two consecutive days in a small town is a different story. The incident inspired won of three winners in this year's Japanese Agriculture Journalists' Association (JAJA) Agricultural Journalist Prize, awarded in May. If you want to know more click here.
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| Canadian student heads to Brussels |
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Agriculture was represented for the first time at this year's European Union Canada Young Journalist competition, and paid dividends for University of Guelph agricultural communications student Brian Innes. His writing skills earned him a week-long study tour to Brussels in May to learn about the European Union. Find out more when you click here.
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| Beef in a big way - Aussie style |
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In the Australian outback, they do beef on a grand scale. Take the Holmes a Court family who own eight cattle stations trading as Heytesbury Beef. Their spread covers 33,000 square km, turning off 50,000 each year. Youthful chief executive Paul Holmes a Court addressed more than 300 people attending a Queensland Rural Press Club function in the Australian beef 'capital', Rockhampton, in May. Australian Council of Agricultural Journalists president Gordon Collie tells the story here.
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| Stars turn out to help Swiss farmers transform image |
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Swiss celebrities are supporting an initiative to boost the image of farmers in their country, according Swiss Agricultural Information Centre managing director Markus Rediger. The new campaign aims to dispel negative stereotypes by showcasing farmers as entrepreneurs and ecologists in an aim to help urban residents identify more with the farming sector, which is on the decline. Visit the Centre's website and read more here.
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| Active guild in Madagascar |
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The Association of Journalists and Communicators in Rural Development (AJCDR) in Madagascar has an active program planned for the year ahead, including providing village libraries with copies of rural newspapers. To read more in both French and English click here.
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| EU losing the PR war |
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The EU has failed to convince its counterparts in the WTO that anything has really changed for farmers in Europe, former head of the GATT and WTO Peter Sutherland said in Dublin recently. Dr Sutherland was giving the Michael Dillon Memorial Lecture, an event organised by the Guild of Agricultural Journalists of Ireland and supported by Kerry Group. The late Michael Dillon was a founder member of the Guild. Read more here.
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| IFAJ World Round-up |
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Read more about the activities of agricultural media guilds and members around the world - here
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