Mike Abram of United Kingdom is this year’s winner of the IFAJ Star Prize for print journalism. The award was announced at the 2013 International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ) congress in Argentina.
From left to right: Nathan Dyer, who achieved honourable mention, British Guild chair person Jane Craigie who collected the top prize won by Mike Abram, Darren Carty collecting the runner-up award on behalf of Catriona Murphy of Ireland and Markus Rediger, president of IFAJ.Abram’s article “Get the best guidance on controlled traffic farming” was published in Crops magazine.
Caitriona Murphy of Ireland received distinguished recognition for the story “The fear that stalks our farms” in Irish Independent.
The honorable mention was given to Nathan Dyer of Australia for the story “Scheme of Dreams” in RM Williams Outback Magazine.
The Star Prize for print journalism is sponsored by John Deere. The winner receives a certificate, gold IFAJ pin and 1,000 Euro cash prize. The runner up receives a 500 Euro cash prize.
The judges were unanimous about Abram’s story. “The author shows us all how to transform a very technical subject into an easy to read and practical article. And most of all: he gives us insight about the financial aspects of this subject. That is something we all should do more as journalists,” they said.
Judges were Rochus Kingsman, former editor of Boerderij and head of publishing for CRV, The Netherlands, Charl van Rooyen, former editor of Landbou, and Niels Damsgaard Hansen, a free lance editor, Denmark. Competition coordinator was IFAJ Secretary General Riitta Mustonen.
Further information about the IFAJ Star Prize for print journalism is available on the IFAJ website at www.www.ifaj.org, or by contacting Mustonen atriitta.mustonen(at)mt1.fi.
