Ian Doig of the Canadian Farm Writers Federation received the 2020 Star Prize for Print from the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ) for “Crisis Control,” which he wrote for GrainsWest. Judges were all impressed with Doig’s ability to manage a great deal of information and data in a highly readable story. One applauded the story’s “diverse views and enough stats to ground the story without bogging it down.”
Steve Werblow, IFAJ secretary-general, added, “Ian Doig very skillfully balances data, stories of frustration, and concrete examples of how Canadian law enforcement and farmers are addressing rural crime. The result is an excellent example of how agricultural journalists can capture the attention of their audience, deliver important information and suggest solutions to pressing challenges.”
The judges awarded the Runner-Up prize to Busani Bufana, a member of the Agricultural Writers Association of South Africa. Bufana wrote “Drought—and Economic Woes—Empty Zimbabwe’s ‘Cattle Bank'” for the Thomson Reuters Foundation. Judges lauded Busani’s “elegant descriptive writing” and his skill in “bringing the place, the people and the impacts of the drought to life.”
The 2020 Star Prize for Print judging panel was comprised of accomplished writers Liz Harfull of Australia, Greg Lamp of the US and Markus Rediger of Switzerland. Entries were submitted from five continents.
