Agricultural Journalism program continues to prepare students for changing industry

by Carah Hart, posted Dec. 9, 2009

Deep within the heart of the University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources lies the source of all agricultural information: A place where the farmers markets meet The Missourian and agricultural students from across the nation strive to present local, national and world agricultural news through its many venues. This is the University of Missouri’s (MU) agricultural journalism program, shaping agricultural communicators of the future.

Since 1909 the agricultural journalism program has provided opportunities for students to excel in different areas of media, including television and radio broadcast, newspaper and magazine print, photography and public relations. The agricultural journalism program also works in cooperation with the School of Journalism.

Margy Fischer, a 2006 University of Missouri alumna felt well-prepared for the work force because of the many opportunities available in MU’s agricultural journalism program.

“The one thing that agricultural journalism and Missouri’s School of Journalism do is practice your talent,” Fischer said. “ Going through the agricultural journalism program allows you to get off campus, get your feet wet and focus on what you want to do.”

Fischer is currently the machinery editor and assistant test plot director for Farm Journal, one of agricultural market’s top farming magazines.

“I never imagined that I would be a machinery editor, but I love it,” she said.

Jason Jenkins, writer and photographer of Rural Missouri magazine agrees that the CAFNR agricultural journalism program prepared him for a strong future in the agriculture industry.

Jenkins said that there have been many changes in agricultural journalism, and that the program emphasizes different tracks, which is a good way to specialize in an area of personal interest.

The tracks include agricultural marketing, agricultural science, conservation and environmental science, and recently added food and wine.

Journalism has changed over time. The Internet provides ways to communicate through Facebook, Twitter and blogs. Agricultural technology has also changed. For example, advancements have been made in genetically modified seed and alternative fuels.

Bill Allen, assistant professor of science journalism said that technology has affected the program in two ways.

“In one way it’s become clear that with the advances in genetics and biotechnology and how these advances are changing the face of agriculture,” Allen said. “These need to be a part of the education of future leaders in agricultural journalism. Not only do our students get exposure to this in science courses, but our program also offers, from time to time, a course in covering biotechnology in the food and health systems.

"Second, advances in media technology have changed how we need to train and educate agricultural journalism students,” Allen said.

Perhaps it is the changing technology that creates such an interest in the agricultural journalism program.

Assistant professor and program chair for the department of agricultural journalism, Sharon Wood-Turley has worked with the program for more than 20 years.

“Over that time I’ve seen the number of agricultural journalism majors vary from a low of around 35 to a high of around 60,” Wood-Turley said. “Right now, we are at 50.”

Wood-Turley is very excited about where the program is headed.

“We have a number of excellent new courses, we always have fantastic students and the need for good writers who understand the complexities of food production and environmental sciences continues to grow,” Wood-Turley said.

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