Agricultural journalism

Last updated

Agricultural journalism is a field of journalism that focuses on the various aspects of agriculture, including agribusiness, best practices and changing conditions for agriculture. Agricultural journalism is part of agricultural communication, an academic and professional field focused on best practices for communicating about agriculture. This kind of knowledge transfer, both identify the perspectives of agriculturalists in larger news stories, such as weather or economics, and transfers knowledge from knowledge holders, policy makers and researchers, to agricultural producers and other implementers involved in growing or processing food. [1]

Agricultural journalism has its roots in other forms of rural journalism in the mid 19th century. [2] In the United States, journalism focused on agriculture was an important part of rural society, and has become an important source of historical material for researchers of economics and rural society. [3] [4] The late-20th century saw increasing commercial pressure and retraction of the industry. [5] [6] However, recent studies of Agricultural Journalism, suggest that farmers adopt new technologies and methodologies through journalism venues, especially in communities in the Global South. [7] [8] Even with this growth in attention, a study by the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists, found that that average agriculture journalism organization employed less than 5 people. [1]

There is a wide variety of agricultural newspapers and magazines throughout the world. Radio programmes are frequently used for agricultural communication and Farm Radio International is a leading organization in providing programming to developing countries. There are over 55 professional organizations, such as the National American Agricultural Journalists in the United States, and the majority of these organizations are part of the federated international organization: the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (initially formed in 1933). [1] [9] [10] These associations improve standards, coordination and training across the discipline. [9] [10]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rural sociology</span> Branch of sociology

Rural sociology is a field of sociology traditionally associated with the study of social structure and conflict in rural areas. It is an active academic field in much of the world, originating in the United States in the 1910s with close ties to the national Department of Agriculture and land-grant university colleges of agriculture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Corporate farming</span> Large-scale agriculture driven by big business

Corporate farming is the practice of large-scale agriculture on farms owned or greatly influenced by large companies. This includes corporate ownership of farms and selling of agricultural products, as well as the roles of these companies in influencing agricultural education, research, and public policy through funding initiatives and lobbying efforts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Communication studies</span> Academic discipline

Communication studies is an academic discipline that deals with processes of human communication and behavior, patterns of communication in interpersonal relationships, social interactions and communication in different cultures. Communication is commonly defined as giving, receiving or exchanging ideas, information, signals or messages through appropriate media, enabling individuals or groups to persuade, to seek information, to give information or to express emotions effectively. Communication studies is a social science that uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge that encompasses a range of topics, from face-to-face conversation at a level of individual agency and interaction to social and cultural communication systems at a macro level.

Agricultural economics is an applied field of economics concerned with the application of economic theory in optimizing the production and distribution of food and fiber products. Agricultural economics began as a branch of economics that specifically dealt with land usage. It focused on maximizing the crop yield while maintaining a good soil ecosystem. Throughout the 20th century the discipline expanded and the current scope of the discipline is much broader. Agricultural economics today includes a variety of applied areas, having considerable overlap with conventional economics. Agricultural economists have made substantial contributions to research in economics, econometrics, development economics, and environmental economics. Agricultural economics influences food policy, agricultural policy, and environmental policy.

Everett M. "Ev" Rogers was an American communication theorist and sociologist, who originated the diffusion of innovations theory and introduced the term early adopter. He was distinguished professor emeritus in the department of communication and journalism at the University of New Mexico.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diffusion of innovations</span> Theory on how and why new ideas spread

Diffusion of innovations is a theory that seeks to explain how, why, and at what rate new ideas and technology spread. The theory was popularized by Everett Rogers in his book Diffusion of Innovations, first published in 1962. Rogers argues that diffusion is the process by which an innovation is communicated through certain channels over time among the participants in a social system. The origins of the diffusion of innovations theory are varied and span multiple disciplines.

Agribusiness is the industry, enterprises, and the field of study of value chains in agriculture and in the bio-economy, in which case it is also called bio-business or bio-enterprise. The primary goal of agribusiness is to maximize profit while satisfying the needs of consumers for products related to natural resources such as biotechnology, farms, food, forestry, fisheries, fuel, and fiber.

Agricultural extension is the application of scientific research and new knowledge to agricultural practices through farmer education. The field of 'extension' now encompasses a wider range of communication and learning activities organized for rural people by educators from different disciplines, including agriculture, agricultural marketing, health, and business studies.

The Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) is a major international membership organization for academics in the field, offering regional and national conferences and refereed publications. It has numerous membership divisions, interest groups, publications and websites.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Agricultural Society of England</span> Society; promotes the scientific development of agriculture

The Royal Agricultural Society of England (RASE) promotes the scientific development of English agriculture. It was established in 1838 with the motto "Practice with Science" and was known as the English Agricultural Society until it received its Royal Charter and present name from Queen Victoria in 1840.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Smallholding</span> Small farm, often for a single family

A smallholding or smallholder is a small farm operating under a small-scale agriculture model. Definitions vary widely for what constitutes a smallholder or small-scale farm, including factors such as size, food production technique or technology, involvement of family in labor and economic impact. Smallholdings are usually farms supporting a single family with a mixture of cash crops and subsistence farming. As a country becomes more affluent, smallholdings may not be self-sufficient, but may be valued for the rural lifestyle. As the sustainable food and local food movements grow in affluent countries, some of these smallholdings are gaining increased economic viability. There are an estimated 500 million smallholder farms in developing countries of the world alone, supporting almost two billion people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Agricultural communication</span> Spreading info about agriculture

Agricultural communication, or agricultural communications, is a field that focuses on communication about agriculture-related information among agricultural stakeholders and between agricultural and non-agricultural stakeholders. Agriculture is broadly defined in this discipline to include not only farming, but also food, fiber, animals, rural issues, and natural resources. Agricultural communication is done formally and informally by agricultural extension and is considered related to science communication. However, it has evolved into its own professional field.

Rural economics is the study of rural economies. Rural economies include both agricultural and non-agricultural industries, so rural economics has broader concerns than agricultural economics which focus more on food systems. Rural development and finance attempt to solve larger challenges within rural economics. These economic issues are often connected to the migration from rural areas due to lack of economic activities and rural poverty. Some interventions have been very successful in some parts of the world, with rural electrification and rural tourism providing anchors for transforming economies in some rural areas. These challenges often create rural-urban income disparities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Agroecology in Latin America</span> Agroecological practices in Latin America

Agroecology is an applied science that involves the adaptation of ecological concepts to the structure, performance, and management of sustainable agroecosystems. In Latin America, agroecological practices have a long history and vary between regions but share three main approaches or levels: plot scale, farm scale, and food system scale. Agroecology in Latin American countries can be used as a tool for providing both ecological, economic, and social benefits to the communities that practice it, as well as maintaining high biodiversity and providing refuges for flora and fauna in these countries. Due to its broad scope and versatility, it is often referred to as "a science, a movement, a practice."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rural history</span> Field of historiographical study

In historiography, rural history is a field of study focusing on the history of societies in rural areas. At its inception, the field was based on the economic history of agriculture. Since the 1980s it has become increasingly influenced by social history and has diverged from the economic and technological focuses of "agricultural history". It can be considered a counterpart to urban history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Multimedia journalism</span> Practice of contemporary journalism

Multimedia journalism is the practice of contemporary journalism that distributes news content either using two or more media formats via the Internet, or disseminating news report via multiple media platforms. First time published as a combination of the mediums by Canadian media mogul, journalist and artist, Good Fridae Mattas in 2003. It is inseparably related to the media convergence of communication technologies, business integration of news industries, and editorial strategies of newsroom management.

Digital agriculture, sometimes known as smart farming or e-agriculture, is tools that digitally collect, store, analyze, and share electronic data and/or information in agriculture. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has described the digitalization process of agriculture as the digital agricultural revolution. Other definitions, such as those from the United Nations Project Breakthrough, Cornell University, and Purdue University, also emphasize the role of digital technology in the optimization of food systems.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elisabeth Sadoulet</span> Economist

Elisabeth Sadoulet is an economist and Professor of Agricultural and Resource Economics at the University of California, Berkeley who has carried out field research in China, India, Latin America, and sub-Saharan Africa. Sadoulet was the editor of the World Bank Economic Review from 2010 to 2013, and is a fellow of several scholarly associations in the fields of agriculture and economics.

The National Federation of Colored Farmers (NFCF) was a cooperative foundation founded in 1922 by a group of African-American entrepreneurs and attorneys. Their purpose was to advance efforts to build the capacity of America’s Black farmers, by forming local chapters of buying and selling distribution cooperatives. Membership was African American farmers in the south and Midwest. This federation existed until 1949, and was registered in Illinois.

Matin Qaim is the Schlegel Professor of Agricultural Economics and Director at the Center for Development Research (ZEF) of the University of Bonn, Germany. His research focuses on issues of food security and sustainable development.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Nelson, William; Doerfert, David; Meyers, Courtney; Baker, Matt; Akers, Cindy; Yamada, Masaru; Nanseki, Teruaki; Roberts, Owen (2014-12-01). "An Examination of the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists' Involvement in Agriculture Knowledge Mobilization". Journal of Applied Communications. 98 (4). doi: 10.4148/1051-0834.1095 . ISSN   1051-0834.
  2. ↑ Marti, Donald B. (1980). "Agricultural Journalism and the Diffusion of Knowledge: The First Half-Century in America". Agricultural History. 54 (1): 28–37. ISSN   0002-1482. JSTOR   3742591.
  3. ↑ Scruggs, C. G.; Moseley, Smith W. (1979). "The Role of Agricultural Journalism in Building the Rural South". Agricultural History. 53 (1): 22–29. ISSN   0002-1482. JSTOR   3742856.
  4. ↑ Shulman, Stuart W. (1999). "The Progressive Era Farm Press: A Primer on a Neglected Source of Journalism History". Journalism History. 25 (1): 26–35. doi:10.1080/00947679.1999.12062507. ISSN   0094-7679.
  5. ↑ Pawlick, Thomas (2001). The Invisible Farm: The Worldwide Decline of Farm News and Agricultural Journalism Training. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN   978-0-8304-1582-3.
  6. ↑ Reisner, Ann; Walter, Gerry (1994-09-01). "Journalists' views of advertiser pressures on agricultural news". Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics. 7 (2): 157–172. doi:10.1007/BF02349035. ISSN   1573-322X.
  7. ↑ Yaseen, Muhammad; Karim, Mujahid; Luqman, Muhammad; Mehmood, Muhammad Umer (October 2019). "Role of Agricultural Journalism in Diffusion of Farming Technologies: Journal of Agricultural Research (03681157)". Journal of Agricultural Research (03681157). 57 (4): 289–294.
  8. ↑ Bassey, Offiong (2021-01-01). "AGRICULTURAL JOURNALISM AN IMPERATIVE FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA 1". GSJ.
  9. 1 2 "North American Agricultural Journalists". North American Agricultural Journalists. Retrieved 2024-04-08.
  10. 1 2 "IFAJ - our history". IFAJ. Retrieved 2024-04-08.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.