By Markus Rediger
Thank you for the trust you put in me as your new President. I look forward to serving you and IFAJ in this position.
I am deeply convinced that the mission of IFAJ to world agriculture is still as relevant as it was decades ago. I have experienced this in the past years in Switzerland, in Europe but also during my service as IFAJ vice president in the past few years.
I have a passion for being part of the mission of IFAJ as an organization of volunteers. We are all linked to one another in a worldwide organization of journalism and agriculture and we want to be relevant to our members. We write and talk about those who profit from world agriculture but also for those who suffer from world agriculture. If we do a good job, all will profit from a professional agricultural press.
To be an Ag journalist today we need a global network of colleagues – called IFAJ. It is important to be at home in a local job, a national guild but also to be linked in networks of journalists and communicators worldwide. Although crops are grown locally, agriculture is a global business.
We are fans – and not alone. When the tennis player Roger Federer gave a press conference in London last month, 400 journalists were there. They were asking questions about the Olympic games, medals, victories and lost games. Some journalists began their question with, “I am a big fan and want to know this and that….” How can a journalist who is a fan be objective and neutral?
We discussed similar questions in professional workshops at the recent IFAJ congress. It was great to hear from participants in the Alltech young leaders program that they recognized they are not alone with their questions. Many of us face the same professional challenges. You never walk alone!
With congresses, and especially the new strategic plan recently approved, we want to help you do a better job as professionals. And maybe through our network become a fan of agriculture worldwide. It is a fascinating world of growing importance.
What should we expect from IFAJ? Connectedness, international contacts and a network of colleagues around the globe who can support each other as journalists. IFAJ can provide recognition through contests and prizes, opportunities for professional development, insights from around the globe, ideas, press cards, friendships – and much more. IFAJ supports a free Ag press for a free world, encourages freedom of press, and supports journalists in countries with limited free press.
As president, I want to listen to you, our members and guilds and our partners. I want to learn from what is going on in journalism, communication, agriculture and the food sector worldwide.
I want to lead IFAJ with the presidium and the Executive Committee according to the vision we share and the decisions we take.
Let’s support each other in telling the world about agriculture. Let’s take care of the IFAJ together, as colleagues and friends.