ACDC Newsletter – Funk Library

November News and Research from the ACDC– Issue 24-11

Posted on November 19, 2024 by

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Key focus areas ahead for grocers

Online grocery shopping is becoming mainstream, according to results of a 2024 survey by VTEX, a commerce platform for business-to-consumer and business-to-business brands and retailers. VTEX surveyed 1,000 U.S. adult consumers and reported:

47 percent of respondents said they order 26-50 percent of their groceries online
60 percent prefer home delivery for their online grocery orders

This finding “underscores the importance of grocers prioritizing their digital offerings.” It suggests that brands which fail to meet these evolving consumer preferences risk losing market share to more digitally-savvy competitors.

You can read “VTEX survey reveals 69% of consumers” by open access.

Community journalists in Colombia facing hazards

“…journalists across the country face threats to their physical safety, low wages, and stigmatization by public officials,” according to a recent article in LatAm Journalism Review. This journal is published by the Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas, University of Texas, Austin.

The most vulnerable are journalists outside major cities, according to author Cesar Lopez Linares, and at least three have been killed across the country this year. “Conflicts and disputes between different actors over territory or control of the population often turn journalists into targets.”

You can read “In rural and small-town Colombia, community journalists face…” by open access.

Honor for a rural television pioneer

Congratulations to Patrick Gottsch, founder of RFD-TV and The Cowboy Channel. The Texas Trail of Fame recently announced that he will be honored with a star on the Texas Trail of Fame in the historic Ft. Worth Stockyards. He joins a “distinguished group of individuals who have made significant contributions to the Western way of life.”

“Patrick’s creation of RFD-TV, the nation’s first 24-hour television network dedicated to rural America, and The Cowboy Channel, focusing on the rich traditions of Western sports, has forever changed the landscape of rural television.”

You can read the Agri-Marketing Update article – “RFD-TV founder Patrick Gottsch inducted into Texas Trail of Fame” – by open access.

Trust in science communication “at a tipping point”

We are adding to the ACDC collection a recent news summary of research from
the International Food Information Council. IFIC reports that Americans’ trust of food and nutrition science is faltering. For example:

Less than half of Americans (38 percent) strongly trust science related to food, nutrition, and diet
Most consumers (79 percent) perceive that recommendations about what to eat and drink change frequently
Among consumers who say dietary recommendations seem like they are always changing, 43 percent report feeling confused about their food choices

“If this shows us anything, it is that fostering critical thinking and promoting science literacy should be top priorities.”

You can read “Trust at a tipping point” by open access.

Teaching complexity in the age of fake news

A 2019 article in portal: Libraries and the Academy described a discussion-based approach for teaching college students to identify the characteristics of ethical journalism and scholarly writing…” Author Lane Glisson used an approach of comparing fake news with credible information in a strategically planned slideshow.

“This librarian shares a lesson plan that engages students’ critical thinking skills by using a blend of humor, analysis, and a compelling visual presentation. The teaching method is contextualized by research on the distrust of the press and scientific evidence since the rise of hyper-partisan cable news, Russian troll farms, and alternative facts.”

“Breaking the spin cycle: Teaching complexity in the age of fake news” is not available in full text by open access. However, if you are interested in reading it please invite our help at acdc@library.illinois.edu

Communicator events approaching

Here are agricultural communicator event plans you may find helpful, including contact information you can use for details. We welcome suggestions or revisions for this calendar.

April 9-11, 2025
“NAMA Palooza” Conference of the National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) in Kansas City, Missouri.

April 29-May 1, 2025
Annual meeting of the Turf and Ornamental Communicators Association (TOCA) in Charleston, South Carolina.

Hungering to be fed

We close this issue of ACDC News with a German proverb about the wisdom of communicating with truth:

“Every lie needs to be fed ten more”

A friendly reminder:

ACDC is a deep and open resource for you, so please feel free to invite our help as you search for information, local to global. You are welcomed to follow us on Twitter @ACDCUIUC. And please suggest (or send) agricultural communications documents we might add to this unique and valued international collection. We welcome them in hard copy (sent to Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, 510 ACES Library, 1101 S. Goodwin Avenue, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801) – or in electronic format sent to acdc@library.illinois.edu

October News and Research from the ACDC– Issue 24-10

Posted on October 21, 2024 by

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“The college solution to rural news deserts”

We are adding a 2024 Daily Yonder news item of that title to the ACDC collection. It involves troubling results of an annual “State of Local News Project” by Medill School of Journalism, Northwestern University. The report revealed:

An “alarming uptick in news deserts across the country. Since 2005, the country has lost almost 2,900 newspapers and 43,000 journalists.
“Of the 3,143 counties in the U.S., more than half, or 1,766, have either no local news source or only one remaining outlet…”
Most of the counties at the greatest risk of losing a local source of news and information are in high-poverty areas in the South and Midwest.
The problem is especially prevalent in rural areas. “Two-thirds of nonmetropolitan counties have only one news outlet or none at all, versus 40% in metropolitan counties.”

Authors Richard Watts and Meg Little Reilly identified one bright spot, as a potential for addressing this problem. They noted that 627 U.S. colleges and universities are located in rural areas. About 95% are located in a news desert or in a county adjacent to a news desert. Authors cited encouraging experience with colleges and universities engaging journalism students with rural communities to support local news.

“…our democracy relies upon the presence of a thriving ecosystem of reliable local news.”

You can read “The college solution to rural news deserts” by open access.

Illinois hosts a visitor from the IFAJ presidium

Agricultural communications faculty members at the University of Illinois appreciated a recent visit from the vice president of the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists. Adalberto (Addy) Rossi is an agricultural writer, radio host, digital editor, and magazine producer in Argentina. He has been the Argentinian member of IFAJ executive committee since 2013 when he was also in charge of the IFAJ Annual Congress in that country. While on the University of Illinois campus early this month he visited with students in an international agricultural communications course and with others in the College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences (ACES).

Remembering Greg Henderson

We join many others in remembering a highly-respected editor and influential voice in the U.S. livestock industry. Greg Henderson, editorial director of Drovers magazine, passed away unexpectedly on August 16. An award-winning journalist during his career of nearly 40 years, he served as president of the Livestock Publications Council (LPC) during 2000-2001. He was inducted into the LPC Hall of Fame in 2008.

Fifty-five of Greg’s always-thoughtful commentaries are preserved and available in the Agricultural Communications Documentation Center collection. They extend back 35 years. You can identify them through an “Author” search on “Greg Henderson” in the ACDC database search system.

New research in the Journal of Applied Communications

You can read these articles in Issue 2, Volume 108 of JAC by open access:

“An enthusiastic but uncertain welcome: Coverage of risks, benefits, and social contexts of CRISPR technology in US. Agricultural news 2012-2022”
By Lindsey Middleton, Anqi Shao, Ashley Cate, Jade Haugen, and Nan Li

“Measuring agricultural means of influence on young adults via Instagram in the United States”
By Samantha Bennett, David S. Martin, Jason T. Sawyer, Soren P. Rodning, and Don Mulvaney

“Influence of production method information on acceptance of precision-grown food compared to conventional and organic food: The role of consumer innovativeness” By Lishan Su and Jason Ellis

“Interpreting the influence of heuristic and systematic cues on visual attention to food label claims” By Caitlin Stanton, Courtney Meyers, Nan Li, and Amber McCord

“Sewing brand messages on social media: A content analysis of Cotton Incorporated’s Instagram content stimuli” By Madalynn Kainer, Holli Leggette, Gary Wingenbach, Thomas Chappell, and Karissa Palmer

“Assessing farmers’ perceptions of best management practices: An exploration of the viewpoints of cotton and peanut farmers in Georgia using Q methodology”
By William R. Taylor, Abigail Borron, Jessica Holt, and Scott Monfort

Izzy Jebe joins the ACDC staff

We are delighted to welcome Izzy Jebe as a new student assistant in the Agricultural Communications Documentation Center. She is a second-year graduate student in the Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications (ALEC) program with an interest in nonformal education and youth program planning. Her undergraduate background is in animal sciences with a concentration on companion animal welfare and care.

“I get to overlap my interests by creating educational programs related to animal welfare for my ALEC classes. My goal is to get a second master’s in library and information sciences here at the University of Illinois. I am very interested in their youth librarianship pathway.”

Communicator events approaching

Here are event plans you may find helpful, including contact information you can use for details. We welcome suggestions or revisions for this calendar.

October 22-24, 2024
“Transparency in action” Transparency Summit sponsored by the Center for Food Integrity (CFI) in Chicago, Illinois.

November 6-7, 2024
“Level up: Sparking innovation.” Fall Virtual Conference of the Association for Communication Excellence (ACE).

November 13-15, 2024
“A voice for agriculture” 81st convention of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) in Kansas City, Missouri.

A thought about education

We close this issue of ACDC News with a perspective from George Horace Lorimer. He expressed it in Letters from a self-made man to his son:

“Education’s a good deal like eating – a fellow can’t always tell which particular thing did him good, but he can usually tell which one did him harm.”

A friendly reminder:

September News and Research from the ACDC– Issue 24-09

Posted on September 26, 2024 by Nikki Gross

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Significant misinformation about GMOs in mainstream and online news media

A new addition to the ACDC collection involves a research article about media information related to genetically modified crops and food (GMOs), internationally. Researchers assessed information in the mainstream and online news media over a two-year period. They found an overall falsehood rate of 9% with a potential global readership of 250 million.

“We conclude that misinformation about GMOs in the mainstream media is still a significant problem and outranks the proportion of misinformation in other comparable debates such as COVID-19 and vaccines.”

You can read “Misinformation in the media: Global coverage of GMOs 2019-2021” in GM Crops and Food by open access.

Consumers quite uninformed, hesitant about regenerative agriculture

A recent Purdue University survey among 1,200 U.S. consumers examined their food spending, satisfaction and values, support of food policies, and trust in sources for food information.

“Around 43% of survey respondents said they were “not at all familiar” with the term “regenerative agriculture” and another 28% … only “slightly familiar.” … “While consumers say they generally support regenerative agriculture initiatives, the level of support goes down when given additional information about the cost.”
Findings also revealed that respondents placed highest priority on the taste and price of food, followed by nutrition and social/environmental sustainability.

You can read “Many consumers are not familiar with regenerative agriculture, survey says” in The Packer by open access.

Return on investment in beef promotion

A recent economic analysis indicated that each dollar invested through the U.S. national beef checkoff program created a $13.41 return on investment for the producers and importers who pay for the program. Findings suggested that the beef checkoff added an incremental $3.3 billion to the beef industry in 2023.

“…positive indirect effects on the broader U.S. economy included increases in:

U.S. employment by almost 47,000 people
U.S. employment income by $2 billion
Total value added to the U.S. economy of $4.1 billion
U.S. GDP by nearly $9.5 billion”

You can read “National Beef Checkoff dollar returns $13.41 to producers, importers” by open access

Boosting demand for imperfect fresh produce

A recent study published in Psychology and Marketing reported how a team of researchers tested three ways to make irregular-appearing fruits and vegetables more attractive to shoppers. The techniques involved anthropomorphizing – attributing human form or personality to imperfect produce:

Placing googly eyes on it
Giving human names to it
Identifying produce as coming from corporate farms – or local farms

You can read “Making ugly produce more attractive with ‘google eyes’” by open access.

Welcome to the ACDC staff

We are delighted to welcome Yanling Liu as a new graduate assistant in the Agricultural Communications Documentation Center. She studied developmental psychology as an undergraduate here at the University of Illinois. As a current master’s degree candidate in the School of Information Sciences, Yanling brings research, outreach, event planning, and reference experience to the Center.

Communicator events approaching

Here are event plans you may find helpful, with contact information you can use for details. We welcome suggestions or revisions for this calendar.

October 11, 2024
Deadline for submitting research papers for the 2025 National Agricultural Communications Symposium (NACS) held in Irving, Texas, during February 2-3, 2025.

October 14-16, 2024
Fall conference, National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

October 18, 2024
Deadline for submitting posters and professional development proposals for the 2025 National Agricultural Communications Symposium (NACS) held in Irving, Texas, during February 2-3, 2025.

October 18, 2024
Deadline for expressing interest in sharing ideas at an idea incubator session during the 2025 National Agricultural Communications Symposium (NACS) held in Irving, Texas, during February 2-3, 2025.

October 22-24, 2024
“Transparency in action” Transparency Summit sponsored by the Center for Food Integrity in Chicago, Illinois.

November 6-7, 2024
“Level up: Sparking innovation.” Fall Virtual Conference of the Association for Communication Excellence (ACE).

November 13-15, 2024
“A voice for agriculture” 81st convention of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) in Kansas City, Missouri.

Being peaceful

We close this issue of ACDC News with this Dutch proverb:

“Better keep peace than make peace.”

A friendly reminder:

August News and Research from the ACDC– Issue 24-08

Posted on August 20, 2024 by Nikki Gross

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When is most food wasted during the year?

It’s summertime, according to recent U.S. data from Divert Inc. A news report in The Packer described food waste as “truly a year-around crisis.” However, for example, wasted food measures nearly 30 percent higher in summer months than during the winter months.

“From here, we need real action and solution implementation with stakeholders across the industry – from consumers to retailers, food manufacturers to restaurants.”

The report includes several key factors in the summertime increase, as well as solutions to address them. You can read “Data reveals a 30% increase in wasted food during the summer months” by open access.

Why fewer farmers are responding to USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service surveys – and so what?

According to a 2024 report from AgWeb, response rates to U. S. Department of Agriculture NASS crop surveys have been declining over time.

“In the early 1990s, response rates…were 80% to 85%. By the late 2010s, response rates had fallen below 60% in some cases.” The report briefly examined importance of response rates, identified impacts of the decline, and explained efforts USDA are taking to address it.

You can read “The reasons fewer farmers are now responding to USDA’s NASS surveys” by open access.

Drivers of consumer intention to buy organic meat

A recent study revealed what factors influence the intentions of Chinese consumers to buy organic meat. Researchers gathered information from 305 consumers in three organic stores in Wuhan, China. Their findings, reported in the Asian Academy of Management journal, identified four key factors:

Attitude
Health consciousness
Food safety concerns
Green self-identity

You can read “Chinese consumers’ purchase intention for organic meat” by open access.

Is it journalism or public relations? How rural journalists draw the line

This 2024 article in Mass Communication and Society explored how 31 U.S. rural journalists said they address this ethical issue. Researchers found:

“In principle they identified stark boundaries between public relations and rural journalism based on journalistic norms…”
“In practice these journalists were often put in a position to engage in public relations work to support their communities.”

This article is not available by open access. However, please invite our help at acdc@library.illinois.edu

Which media most affect the adoption of digital ag technology

We are adding to the ACDC collection a summary of results from communications research among farmers in the U.S. and Brazil.

“Like everyone else, farmers are inundated with a constant flow of information, and new technologies appear all the time. However, the role of communication, as it impacts broader adoption decisions, is somewhat understudied,” explained lead author Joana Colussi.

Correlation analysis of response patterns from 801 soybean farmers in both countries revealed that “even though social media is increasing in relevance, our results suggest interpersonal meetings are still very important,” in influencing actual adoption practices.

You can read “How does media impact digital technology adoption in agriculture?” in Agriculture journal by open access.

Communicator events approaching

Here are event plans you may find helpful, with contact information you can use for details. We welcome suggestions or revisions for this calendar.

October 18, 2024
Deadline for submitting posters, professional development proposals, and expressing interest in sharing ideas at an idea incubator session for the 2025 National Agricultural Communications Symposium (NACS) held in Irving, Texas, during February 2-3, 2025.
Information can be found at the above hyperlink.

October 22-24, 2024
“Transparency in action” Transparency Summit sponsored by the Center for Food Integrity in Chicago, Illinois. Information can be found at the above hyperlink.

November 6-7, 2024
“Level up: Sparking innovation.” Association of Communication Excellence (ACE) fall virtual conference. Information can be found at the above hyperlink.

November 8-11, 2024
National Association of Science Writers (NASW) annual conference in Raleigh, North Carolina. Information can be found at the above hyperlink.

November 13-15, 2024
Annual convention, National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) in Kansas City, Missouri. Information can be found at the above hyperlink.

Don’t pay attention

We close this issue of ACDC News with a bit of communications advice we have enjoyed in a book, Letters from a self-made merchant to his son by George Horace Lorimer:

“There are two things you never want to pay any attention to – abuse and flattery. The first can’t harm you and the second can’t help you.”

A friendly reminder:

July News and Research from the ACDC– Issue 24-07

Posted on July 23, 2024 by Nikki Gross

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On climate change and the effects of U.S. animal agriculture

We are adding to the ACDC collection a sensitive 2024 journal article in Climatic Change. It analyzes the role of two university-based centers in addressing effects of livestock on climate change. Authors Viveca Morris and Jennifer Jacquet “documented how the ties between these professors, centers, and the animal agriculture industry have helped maintain the livestock industry’s social license to operate not only by generating industry-supported research, but also by supporting public relations and policy advocacy.”

You can read “The animal agriculture industry, U.S. universities, and the obstruction of climate understanding and policy” by open access.

Addressing food loss and waste in restaurants

A 2024 article in the International Journal on Food System Dynamics reports results of an online literature review about this timely topic. Authors analyzed 80 articles from Scopus and Web of Science to understand economic and environmental effects. Among the results:

• Findings emphasized the importance of investing in employee training and in policies to reduce food loss and waste in storing, processing and serving food.
• They also underscored the need to educate consumers on responsible consumption.

You can read “Determinants and effects of food waste in restaurants” by open access.

Why and how journalists should report about product recalls

We are adding to the ACDC collection a 2023 article emphasizing the importance of covering product recalls and suggesting ways to cover them. Author Kelechukwu Iruoma wrote it for posting on the website of the Reynolds Center for Business Journalism, Arizona State University.

This article reported that about 1.5 billion units of foods, drugs, medical devices, automobiles, and consumer products were recalled in the U.S. during 2022. Among those sectors, the number of food units recalled during 2022 increased by more than 700% compared to 2021. The article briefly explains why journalists should cover recalls. It also identifies ways to identify story ideas, including some that may hold interest to food and agriculture reporters.

You can read “Why business journalists should report product recalls” here.

Nearly a quarter century of heated debate

A 2024 issue of the Journal of Rural Studies features an article about continuing controversy involving the Murray-Darling Basin Plan in Australia. The debate centers on allocation and management of Australia’s natural water reserves in the face of climate change.

Authors analyzed 6,694 media articles referring to the Basin Plan across 135 outlets from 2008 to 2022. Three-fourths of the total articles were coded as negative in tone, “suggesting very little balance in Basin Plan reporting.” Rural media outlets were more likely than urban media outlets to report negative stories.

“Far less media coverage was given to…complex issues such as climate change, long-term structural change for irrigation communities, ecological crises, and sharing water with those who have little.”

You can read “Propensity for negative media reporting in the Murray-Darling Basin Plan in Australia” by open access.

Exploring and navigating the chasm

“This study basically examines the sharp contrast, the incompatibility and unsuitability of the Western theoretical concept of Gatekeeping with the traditional African Akata masquerade which serves as the traditional media for West African natives…in Nigeria.”

The study addresses broad cross-cultural communications issues related to rural development. You can read the article, “Exploring and navigating the chasm: The incompatibility of Western Gatekeeping Theory with Akwa-Cross Akata indigenous media” by Unwana Samuel Akpan in the Howard Journal of Communications by open access.

Communicator events approaching

Here are event plans you may find helpful, with contact information you can use for details. We welcome suggestions or revisions for this calendar.

August 4-7, 2024
Annual conference, National Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow (ACT), in conjunction with the Ag Media Summit in Kansas City, Missouri.
Information can be found at the above hyperlink.

August 14-18, 2024
“High Elevations. High Expectations.” Annual Congress, International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ), at Inter laken/Berner Oberland, Switzerland.
Information can be found at the above hyperlink.

September 8-11, 2024
Professional development conference, International Food Wine Travel Writers Association, at Corning-Finger Lakes, New York.
Information can be found at the above hyperlink.

October 11, 2024
Deadline for submitting research papers for the 2025 National Agricultural Communications Symposium (NACS) held in Irving, Texas, during February 2-3, 2025.
Information can be found at the above hyperlink.

October 14-16, 2024
Fall conference, National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Information can be found at the above hyperlink.

October 22-24, 2024
“Transparency in action” Transparency Summit sponsored by the Center for Food Integrity in Chicago, Illinois.
Information can be found at the above hyperlink.

Advice about reading

We close this issue of ACDC News with the insight of a German proverb:

“It is not healthy to swallow books without chewing.”

Best regards and wishes

ACDC is a deep and open resource for you, so please feel free to invite our help as you search for information, local to global. You are welcome to follow us on Twitter @ACDCUIUC. And please suggest (or send) agricultural communications documents we might add to this unique and valued international collection. We welcome them in hard copy (sent to Ag Comm Documentation Center, 510 ACES Library, 1101 S. Goodwin Avenue, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801) – or in electronic format sent to acdc@library.illinois.edu

June News and Research from the ACDC– Issue 24-06

Posted on June 25, 2024 by Nikki Gross

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“It’s getting worse”

With that introduction, a recent article by Iowa Capital Dispatch suggested the U.S. is failing to stem the tide of harmful farm pollutants.

“The culprit at the center of it all is a colossal tide of fertilizer and animal manure that runs off fields in Iowa and other farm states to find its way into the Mississippi River,” said author Omar De Kok. The article traces pollution trends and environmental impacts along the 2,350-mile-long corridor ending at the Gulf of Mexico. It also identifies conservation practices found to be effective in addressing such a complex “jigsaw puzzle.”

You can read “It’s getting worse” by open access.

Antagonistic reaction in Sweden to calls for climate change action

We are adding to the ACDC collection a Nordic Journal of Media Studies article about how three Swedish far-right digital media sites reported on climate during 2018-2019.

For this study, researchers Kjell Vowles and Martin Hultman used a toolkit from critical discourse analysis. Findings revealed how use of conspiracy theories, anti-establishment rhetoric, and nationalistic arguments “created an antagonistic reaction to increased demands for action on climate change.” The authors offered several suggestions for further research.

You can read “Scare-quoting climate” by open access.

New articles in the Journal of Applied Communications

We are pleased to share these research articles published recently in the Volume 108 Issue 1 of JAC:

“Perceptions of science communication’s domain, practices, and identity: What concerns members on the peripheral edge of a community of practice.”
Rebecca Swenson and Corissa Marson

“Exploring identities of extension faculty and educators as science communicators.” Klae O’Brien, Carrie N. Baker, Sarah A. Bush, Maggie Elliot, and Kattlyn J. Wolf

“Print grades prime: A quantitative analysis of producer communication preferences of U.S. beef breed association magazines through the lenses of uses, gratifications, and gatekeeping.” Megan Underwood, Katherine J. Starzec, Nellie Hill-Sullins, and R.L. Weaber

“If nobody hears us, do we really make a sound? Investigating agriculture faculty members’ engagement in science communication.” Shelli D. Rampold, Taylor Ruth, and Jamie Greig

You can read these articles by open access.

Career opportunities in the fresh produce industry

A panel of college educators and future graduates addressed this topic at the 2024 West Coast Produce Expo. Panelists offered a variety of suggestions, such as:

• The next generation wants to understand how their role would affect the business. Students “may know the name of big business, but unless there is some campus visibility with regard to visiting students at a club meeting or guest speakers or a lecture, the big name is meaningless…”
• “…many students don’t realize that they could do financial modeling and accounting and sales and all those things within this industry.”
• “Produce, it’s a product that everyone can feel good about supporting and selling.” Those in the industry should help graduates make that connection.

You can read “Attracting the next generation to the produce industry” by open access.

How farmers in Iran consider adopting contract farming

A 2024 article in Scientific Reports emphasized the role of trust, knowledge and attitude in Iranian farmers’ intention to adopt contract farming. A research team at Tarbiat Modares University surveyed a probability sample of farmers to investigate factors influencing their consideration of contract farming.

Findings offered practical recommendations to farmers and valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders.

You can read “Investigating the factors affecting farmers’ intention to adopt contract farming” by open access.

Communicator events approaching

Here are event plans you may find helpful, with contact information you can use for details. We welcome suggestions or revisions for this calendar.

June 23-25, 2024
“Big ideas start here.” Annual conference of the Association for Communication Excellence (ACE) in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Information: https://aceweb.org/ace-conference/

August 4-7, 2024
Annual conference, National Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow (ACT), in conjunction with the Ag Media Summit in Kansas City, Missouri.
Information: https://nactnow.org/upcoming-events

September 8-11, 2024
Professional development conference, International Food Wine Travel Writers Association, at Corning-Finger Lakes, New York.
Information: https://ifwtwa.org/2024-ifwtwa-conference/

October 14-16, 2024
Fall conference, National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Information: https://www.nama.org/2024-fall-conference.html

It’s a flawed weapon

We close this issue of ACDC News with a piece of folk wisdom from Sweden:

“Envy shoots at others and wounds itself.”

Best regards and wishes

May News and Research from the ACDC– Issue 24-05

Posted on May 16, 2024 by Nikki Gross

Click here for a printer-friendly PDF of this issue

“Seven drivers of trust-earning transparency”

These validated principles come from the Center for Food Integrity (CFI). Participants examined them at a Transparency Summit in Chicago, Illinois, during November 2023. Drivers included:

• Motivation: Act in a manner that is ethical and consistent with stakeholder interests.
• Disclosure: Share all information publicly, both positive and negative.
• Stakeholder participation: Engage those interested in your activities or impact.
• Relevance: Share information stakeholders deem relevant.
• Clarity: Share information that is easily understood and easily obtained.
• Credibility: Have a history of operating with integrity.
• Accuracy: Share information that is truthful, objective, reliable and complete.

This article is not available by open access. Please invite our help at acdc@library.illinois.edu.

Digital divides still exist among rural, suburban, and urban American adults

A 2021 survey by Pew Research Center among U.S. adults revealed that rural Americans made large gains in adopting digital technology over the previous decade. They narrowed some digital gaps. “However, rural adults remain less likely than suburban adults to have home broadband and less likely than urban adults to own a smartphone, tablet computer or traditional computer.”

Seventy-two percent of rural adults reported having home broadband service in 2021, compared with 79 percent of suburban adults and 77 percent of urban adults. Rural service had risen nine percent since 2016. “…lack of reliable internet access has come to the forefront of discussions about navigating remote work and school during the coronavirus pandemic.”

You can read “Some digital divides persist between rural, urban and suburban America” by open access.

Celebrating 20 years of ZimmComm

Congratulations to Chuck and Cindy Zimmerman as they observe the 20th anniversary of their innovative ZimmComm enterprise, based in Florida.
“It was at the 2004 NAMA conference that we kicked off our new company, which was initially called ZimmComm New Media – but what was new then is now just called social media, a little thing that has made a deep impact on what we all do as marketers, journalists, and communicators in general.” It has charted new pathways for effective event reporting and information services involving agribusiness communications.

You can read more about this by open access in an April 22 report entitled “ZimmComm Celebrates 20th Anniversary.”

How prepared are German pig farmers to prevent African swine fever?

A 2024 article in Porcine Health Management reported on research addressing that question. Results were encouraging. “The biosecurity check showed that on most farms, a high level of biosecurity had been implemented. … Overall, the farmers were well informed about ASF and had a realistic perception of their own biosecurity.”

Researchers suggested that current knowledge transfer and information should focus on building upon the farmers’ own motivation and expertise. Efforts should support the farmers’ efforts to put existing knowledge into practice.

You can read “Biosecurity measures for the prevention of African swine fever on German pig farms” by open access.

Special conflicts in ethics of rural health care

We are adding to the ACDC collection a chapter in the Handbook for rural health care ethics: a practical guide for professionals from Dartmouth College Press (2009). Chapter 7, written by Tom Townsend, featured “Ethics conflicts in rural communities: privacy and confidentiality.”

Townsend explored “ethical challenges involving privacy and confidentiality in rural health care relationships, due to overlapping relationships and familiarity with patients and communities.” He noted how the ethics issues within the patient-provider relationship change when “strangers at the bedside” rather than friends, neighbors or acquaintances are involved as health care providers. Several situation case studies in the chapter helped examine such ethical issues. A closing section offered suggestions about how to address ethical conflicts in confidentiality and privacy.

You can read “Ethics conflicts in rural communities: privacy and confidentiality” by open access.

Communicator events approaching

Here are event plans you may find helpful, with contact information you can use for details. We welcome suggestions or revisions for this calendar.

June 2-4, 2024. “Center of Communication.” Cooperative Communicators Association (CCA) Institute in Des Moines, Iowa. Information: https://www.communicators.coop/professional-development/cca-institute/

June 18-20, 2024. Annual meeting of the Agricultural Relations Council (ARC) in Cincinnati, Ohio. Information: https://www.agrelationscouncil.org/agricultural-relations-council-annual-meeting/

June 18-23, 2024. Conference of the International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors (ISWNE) in Toronto, Canada.
Information: https://www.iswne.org/conferences/

June 20-24, 2024. “Communication and global human rights.” Annual conference of the International Communication Association (ICA) in Gold Coast, Australia. Information: https://www.icahdq.org/mpage/ica24/

June 23-25, 2024. “Big ideas start here.” Annual conference of the Association of Communication Excellence (ACE) in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Information: https://aceweb.org/ace-conference/

On speaking better

We close this issue of ACDC News with a Dutch proverb about communicating:

“It is better to speak sense occasionally than nonsense continually.”

Best regards and wishes

April News and Research from the ACDC– Issue 24-04

Posted on April 12, 2024 by Nikki Gross

Click here for a printer-friendly PDF of this issue

News media in rural communities not covering local matters

Results of a 2019 Pew Research Center national survey indicated that only 41 percent of U.S. rural residents said their local news media mostly cover their areas, compared with 62 percent of urban residents. This gap is cited as “a concern raised by many journalism watchers following newsroom cutbacks and media consolidation.”

As a possible result, 69 percent of rural residents indicated their local news media do not have much influence.

You can read “For many rural residents in U.S., local news media mostly don’t cover…” by open access.

Participatory photography and thematic collages: pathways to adoption

A research team from the University of Reading (UK) collaborated recently with members of a women’s self-help group in India to explore this interactive approach to rural development. They used individual photo creativity and group discussion to understand more clearly the subjective motivations and social-cultural factors which influence adoption of zero budget natural farming. It emphasizes chemical-free inputs and regenerative farming technologies.

You can read “Thematic collages in participatory photography” by open access in the International Journal of Qualitative Methods.

Factors affecting trust in Chinese digital journalism

“Trust in online digital news has become a significant concern affecting social cohesion in China. Under the framework of folk theories, we interviewed urban and rural residents’ perceptions and imaginations of digital news credibility in China’s digital journalism environment.” So indicated the authors of this 2023 article in Media and Communication.

Among their findings:
• Digital media giants in China were used by both urban and rural residents.
• Skepticism of digital news accounted for only a tiny fraction of the reasons held by news avoiders.
• Urban and rural residents had similar perceptions about the impact of news forms, quality of information and individual stances on digital news.
• Rural residents showed uncertainty about the transparency of news production.
• News seekers were more likely to display herd behaviors, which may mislead their judgment of news credibility.
• News avoiders may refuse to consume news because of their distaste for China’s digital news atmosphere.

You can read “Factors affecting trust in Chinese digital journalism” by open access.

Farm-based causes and solutions for fruit and vegetable waste

A 2024 article in the International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability addressed this issue in Romania. Authors emphasized that farmers are “the most important stakeholders in minimizing fruit and vegetable waste in primary production, and any intervention must consider their attitudes and perspectives.” Results of a qualitative analysis process showed that farmers defined such waste as discarded produce, excluding items used for compost or animal feed. Three indirect causes of farm-based produce waste emerged:

• Consumers’ preference for supermarkets and perfectly-shaped fruits and vegetables
• Difficulties farmers face in accessing supermarkets
• Difficulties they face in marketing imperfect fruits and vegetables

Authors called for (a) inclusive food policies that prioritize local knowledge and (b) farmers to tailor solutions for reducing fruit and vegetable waste.

You can read “Causes and solutions for fruit and vegetable waste” by open access.

Marketing to the rural lifestyle audience

We are adding to the ACDC collection results of an analysis which focused on marketing to about 46 million U.S. residents living in rural places. Author Sara Steever, president of Paulsen marketing agency, reported findings about the characteristics, attitudes, activities, media preferences and purchase intent of rural residents who own land for self-fulfillment rather than profit.

She indicated that the findings can help marketers create specific content, develop new products and services, optimize their media investment, attract and retain customers and build brand loyalty.

You can read “Marketing to the rural lifestyle audience” by open access.

Communicator events approaching

Here are event plans you may find helpful, with contact information you can use for details. We welcome suggestions or revisions for this calendar.

May 16-18, 2024. “Return to horse country.” Conference of American Horse Publications (AHP) in Lexington, Kentucky. Information: https://www.americanhorsepubs.org/ahp-annual-conference/

June 18-20, 2024. Annual meeting of the Agricultural Relations Council (ARC) in Cincinnati, Ohio. Information: https://www.agrelationscouncil.org/agricultural-relations-council-annual-meeting/

June 18-23, 2024. Conference of the International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors (ISWNE) in Toronto, Canada.
Information: https://www.iswne.org/conferences/

June 23-25, 2024. “Big ideas start here.” Annual conference of the Association of Communication Excellence (ACE) in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Information: https://aceweb.org/ace-conference/

Said of certain cattle thieves

As boosters of brevity, we close this issue of ACDC News with a concise, revealing euphemism about the fate of certain cattle thieves. It caught our eye in the book, Cow People, by J. Frank Dobie:

“They quit breathing.”

Best regards and wishes

March News and Research from the ACDC– Issue 24-03

Posted on March 22, 2024 by Nikki Gross

Click here for a printer-friendly PDF of this issue

“Shattered papers and ‘ghosts’ without local news”

We are adding to the ACDC collection a revealing 2023 report by Al Cross about “what has happened to hundreds of newspapers that once covered small cities, towns and rural areas across America.”

Cross is director emeritus at the Institute for Rural Journalism, University of Kentucky. “They’ve become ‘ghost papers,’ he observed, “with either no local journalists remaining on staff or so few that the paper’s ability to provide critical news and information to residents in that community has been severely curtailed.”

His report documents this erosion during the past two decades. As well, he identifies new business models emerging in some small and mid-sized communities.

You can read “Rural mirages: Shattered papers and ‘ghosts’ without local news” by open access.

Effect of photographic style on trust in social media messaging

A 2023 article in First Monday journal explored the effect of photo aesthetics on trust and interest in social media accounts. Author Jennifer Golbeck surveyed 3,255 online respondents about dog care, using various styles of photographs.

“Subjects reported significantly higher trust in and more interest in following accounts that posted well-composed, well-lit, more professional photos as compared with accounts with more casual photos.”

You can read “Photo aesthetics as a factor in trust and interest assessments” by open access.

Comparing Australian public and farmer views

A 2024 issue of Ecological Economics includes an article about comparative rural-urban views on agricultural land use and management practices in Australia. Results of a survey identified three dimensions for attention:

• Issues related to animal welfare, greenhouse gas emissions and food safety
• Issues related to use of farm inputs
• Issues related to use of socially valuable assets for private profits

You can read “Comparing Australian public and farmer views on agricultural land use and management practices for sustainability” by open access.

Thanks for a new book featuring Irish Farmers Journal

Sincere thanks to Claire McCormack for providing a copy of Irish Farmers Journal: A History to the Agricultural Communications Documentation Center and University of Illinois Library. You may recall that Claire was the first Visiting Global Agricultural Journalist late last year here at the University of Illinois. She is a researcher in media work and agriculture at the School of Agriculture and Food Science at University College Dublin.

This new 280-page book traces a 76-year history of the biggest-selling farming publication across the islands of Ireland and Britain. Co-authors Mark Duncan and Paul Rouse have “told the story of a newspaper that is rooted in the evolution of Irish agriculture and a much wider societal transformation, with all that this means for the lives of the readers.”

We in ACDC know the rarity and value of such in-depth research about journalism and communications related to food and agriculture. As the authors noted, Irish Farmers Journal has both chronicled change and shaped it.

Promoting agricultural conservation on Facebook

A 2023 article in Sustainability Science provides insight on that timely challenge. Using Facebook ads, the research team tested farmer response to message themes related to four identities: Business, Hero, Science, and Steward. Findings suggested:

• Ads framed to address Business as a farmer identity were the most effective in obtaining farmer clicks
• However, ads using the Science or Steward frames engaged women most effectively
• Among younger respondents, the Hero ads received fewer clicks compared to the Business or Science ads

By open access, you can read “Promoting agricultural conservation on Facebook” in this article.

Communicator events approaching

Here are event plans you may find helpful, with contact information you can use for details. We welcome suggestions or revisions for this calendar.

April 22-25, 2024
Conference of the Association for International Agricultural and Extension Education (AIAEE) at the University of Florida, Gainesville.
Information: https://www.aiaee.org/2024-Conference

April 24-26, 2024
“Bright Horizons.” Conference of the National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) in Kansas City, Missouri. Information: https://www.nama.org/bright_horizons.html

April 29-May 1, 2024
Annual meeting of the Turf and Ornamental Communicators Association (TOCA) in Las Vegas, Nevada. Information: https://www.toca.org/toca-events

May 16-18, 2024. “Return to horse country,” conference of American Horse Publications (AHP) in Lexington, Kentucky. Information: https://www.americanhorsepubs.org/2024-ahp-equine-media-conference/

June 18-20, 2024. Annual meeting of the Agricultural Relations Council (ARC) in Cincinnati, Ohio. Information: https://www.agrelationscouncil.org/agricultural-relations-council-annual-meeting/

June 18-23, 2024. Conference of the International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors (ISWNE) in Toronto, Canada.
Information: https://www.iswne.org/annual_conferences/june-18-23-2024-conference—toronto-canada/article_1faf8c14-95bf-11e9-b994-7fbdafce6984.html

June 23-25, 2024. “Big ideas start here.” Annual conference of the Association of Communication Excellence (ACE) in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Information: https://aceweb.org/ace-conference/

What should we do?

We close this issue of ACDC News with a senior Irish farmer’s view about going into the European Economic Community (EEC) during the early 1970s. It was reported in Irish Farmers Journal: A History (page 110) and perhaps reflects a broader, cautionary perspective on outcomes of decisions in life.

“Whatever we do, we will be sorry.”

Best regards and wishes

February News and Research from the ACDC– Issue 24-02

Posted on February 15, 2024 by Nikki Gross

Click here for a printer-friendly PDF of this issue

Water scientists: trusted, but their advice may not be followed

A note of caution appeared in an article about the priorities people assign to various sources of information about water issues. Researcher Sadie Hundemer examined factors that affect residents’ perceived willingness to change their water beliefs based on information provided by scientists as well as by less-scientific institutions, such as media and interest groups. Her study involved 806 Florida and Georgia (USA) residents.

Results prompted her to suggest, “…while the words of scientists influence the public’s water beliefs, other information sources are also influential and can reduce the impact of scientists’ messages.”

You can read “Prioritization of scientific sources of water information” in this 2024 Journal of Applied Communications article by open access.

Congratulations to the new director, Institute for Rural Journalism

We are pleased to extend congratulations to Benjy Hamm as new director of the Institute of Rural Journalism and Community Issues, based at the University of Kentucky. He assumed that important responsibility in August, 2023.

Writing in The Rural Blog, he emphasized how “journalists and trusted news organizations are more important now than ever.”

You can read “Moving forward: New director’s thoughts…” by open access.

Are consumers ready to eat insect-fed poultry?

Results of recent research among Italian consumers revealed positive attitudes toward buying meat and eggs from insect-fed (IF) poultry. .

“Moreover, we find that food neophobia and entomophobia negatively affect Italian consumers’ attitude towards those products, while the trust in the role of
public authorities in securing food safety positively impacts on it. Also, consumers’ propensity towards sustainable food increases the likelihood of buying IF animal products.”

You can read “Back to the future: Are consumers ready…” in Future Foods by open access.

“…it is high time for the diffusion of sustainable agricultural practices…”

So concluded researchers in a 2024 issue of the Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences. The team had examined use of pesticides in the Erode District, among the most predominant paddy rice regions of western Tamil Nadu, India. Probability sampling involved the communication network of farmers in 10 villages.

Among the findings and suggestions:
• “…surveyed farmers used excessive pesticides every day”
• The excess pesticide application could be largely attributed to lack of awareness about the ill effects of pesticides
• Local input dealers agricultural officers, and spray men were the significant informants regarding pesticide-related information
• Those sources should be included in the extension setup to promote and motivate farmers to use pesticides sustainably

You can read “Understanding the communication network of farmers…” by open access.

“I talk to producers like I’m a producer!”

We are adding to the ACDC collection an article in Advancements in Agricultural Development about how extension professionals view climate change and frame their communications about it with producers. Researchers K. R. Wilson and S. C. Mukembo surveyed 112 Missouri extension professionals online.

They concluded:
• Extension professionals need participatory training on climate change
• They also need to build climate literacy while teaching climate scientists best practices for communicating these issues to the public

According to the report, lack of an official standard for food-date labeling in the U.S. leaves consumers unsure about what the labels mean. Congressional Research Service has indicated that date-labeling confusion causes 7% of all U.S. food waste.

You can read “I talk to producers like I’m a producer” by open access.

Communicator events approaching

Here are event plans you may find helpful, with contact information you can use for details. We welcome suggestions or revisions for this calendar.

April 3-7, 2024. Annual conference, Society of Environmental Journalists, Philadelphia, PA. Information: https://sej.org/initiatives/sej2024-annual-conference-philadelphia-pennsylvania-april-3-7

April 24-26, 2024
“Bright Horizons.” Conference of the National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) in Kansas City, Missouri. Information: https://www.nama.org/2024_amc.html

April 29-May 1, 2024
Annual meeting of the Turf and Ornamental Communicators Association (TOCA) in Las Vegas, Nevada. Information: https://www.toca.org/toca-events

May 16-18, 2024. “Return to horse country,” conference of American Horse Publications (AHP) in Lexington, Kentucky. Information: https://www.americanhorsepubs.org/ahp-annual-conference/

A closing thought

We close this February issue of ACDC News with a Norwegian proverb about the pace of learning to interact with others:

“A child learns to speak quicker than he learns to keep silent”