When several hundred radio, television and newspaper journalists gather for their annual Canadian Association of Journalists conference, usually I find our paper (and agriculture) is unknown to them.
Recently in Vancouver for such an event, I found many people surprisingly aware of the Producer and agriculture.
Almost instantantly, I was asked: “So what about that Crow issue?”
Further comments and observations followed from my journalism acquaintances.
“So have farmers given up?”
“Why aren’t the farmers saying much?”
“How come so few farmers have demonstrated when the finance minister has been travelling the country selling his budget?”
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“Isn’t it a big deal anymore?”
I mused at the signals being picked up by the media. To the journalists, the fact that farmers weren’t demonstrating was a story. Instead of inquiring how much it will affect farmers, they assumed farmers must not be hurting too much if they aren’t out screaming for political attention in the budget’s aftermath.
What can we learn from this?
Journalists from the mainstream media are interested in agricultural issues such as the demise of the Crow Benefit.
Many would admit they are removed from reporting on it, live in cities and are unclear on all the angles, but they are curious and want to learn more.
The fact that farmers aren’t being more vocal intrigues but confuses them.
Many journalists across the country have rural roots or come from the Prairies. For example, news anchors Pamela Wallin and Keith Morrison are from Saskatchewan.
When Wallin was with the Toronto Star, it became her mission in life to write at least one story about the Crow Rate for that urban audience. She succeeded.
Perhaps other journalists need to pick up that educational torch in this country and explain agricultural issues better to their peers and the public.
