I never thought I’d get to see Croatia. Now, I’m buying tickets to fly to the upcoming IFAJ World Congress in Osijek. What a world.
When I was in high school, a good friend of mine would show me pictures and drawings of her childhood home in Slovenia. Back then, Slovenia was part of Yugoslavia, along with Croatia and other nations—on the other side of a vast ideological divide, a place that seemed not only far away from the U.S., but also mysterious and off-limits. I remember the sadness of thinking I’d never get to see the places Miriam was talking about.
Fast forward past the massive changes of 1989 to today. The old barriers have fallen and the world has gotten smaller. And we all have IFAJ to help make it even smaller (and friendlier) still.
My personal perspective is a tiny metaphor for the journey IFAJ has taken. From a group of journalists pulling together in western Europe in the 1950s to a truly global network that spans the old political blocs and leaps over stumbling blocks, we have brought journalists and communicators together to build networks, hone our skills, advocate for press freedom, and strengthen our profession. Most important, IFAJ helps us serve our audiences around the world with a greater understanding of what’s happening around the globe. We’ve got a lot to celebrate as we recognize IFAJ’s 70th anniversary at Congress this year.
The world has changed dramatically in the decades since I first wished I could see the beauty of what was then Yugoslavia. So has IFAJ. Of course, it’s not all sunshine and roses. Politics, trade, and the economy are bumpy right now in many nations, which makes the IFAJ network more valuable than ever as we report or communicate about agriculture.
So if you haven’t registered for this year’s Congress in Croatia, I highly recommend signing up today and joining us there. If you have been thinking of getting involved in another IFAJ program—or becoming more engaged with your guild back home—this is the year to do it.
I hope we’ll get to explore Croatian agriculture together…or meet online or in-person through some other IFAJ opportunity.
Steve Werblow
IFAJ President