Sharing a common bond
by Courtney McLain, posted Sept. 29, 2008
The evolution of agricultural journalism was the main conversation topic when more than 60 MU agricultural journalism alumni gathered on Thursday, Sept. 11, in the Life Sciences Building for the Agricultural Journalism Alumni Reunion.
University Catering supplied food for the event, and while guests ate, speakers entertained the crowd. Bill Allen, head of the MU agricultural journalism department, started off the evening with a presentation on the progress of the current agricultural journalism students. Rachel Duff, president of Agriculture Communicators of Tomorrow and junior agricultural journalism student, discussed the accomplishments of the organization. Also, Julia Shuck, a junior agricultural journalism student, told about her experience as a journalist at the Beijing Olympics 2008.
Agricultural journalism has changed drastically in a short amount of time.
“When I first started, the receptionist used carbon paper,” Delmar Hatesohl said, M.A. Agricultural Journalism ’59. Now, agricultural journalists are using MacBooks, tape recorders and other high-tech machines.
The list of gadgets is as diverse as the job titles held by those in attendance at the event. However, all agree that while the combination of an agricultural background with a journalism degree is rare, the demand for such is high in the work field.
“The writing skills I gained through this program have helped me with whatever I wanted to do,” Dana Rogge said, B.S. Agricultural Journalism ’03.
Fifty years ago most individuals who graduated with an agricultural journalism degree became local editors. Now, agricultural journalists can use their degrees to obtain careers that were never imaginable. Individuals are becoming editors for large publications, such as Missouri Ruralist, or flying across the United States discussing public relations with their clients.
“Students are going into a broader range of careers,” Hatesohl said.
The event was held in conjunction with the MU School of Journalism Centennial. Journalism alumni from all over the world came back to the MU campus to celebrate the event.
