IFAJ may be ‘the only global network of agricultural journalists’, but in reality our membership is diverse. Not only do we welcome journalists from across the ‘four cultures’ of agriculture, horticulture, aquaculture and silviculture, but we also rub shoulders with communicators.

For this webinar, we’re taking a slightly different perspective on ‘freedom of the press’.

Are journalists and communicators inherently biased in their roles? Enough to restrict journalists’ access to information, or freedom to follow stories? Or are they just ‘doing their job’, organising and shepherding and sorting information, for mutual benefit?

Indeed, we have a lot of great members, as well among communicators as journalists. Several members are also working both as communicators and journalists. They are doing a great job and some of them have been awarded more than once.

By exploring the topic through the eyes of those who fulfil those roles – and those who have experience of both – we’ll ask how we can synchronise the roles. How can we manage perceived, or real, conflicts of interest or opinion? And, most importantly, how can both groups work together constructively in pursuit of our common interest – supporting and enabling the flow of information within agriculture?

We believe that journalists and communicators could work together for high quality reporting and information, which would benefit suffiency and security of food in our world.

Hear from Olivia Cooper (UK), Pam Caraway (USA), Rachel Martin (Ireland) and Alpha Ousmane Souaré (Guinea) in what promises to be a lively and informative discussion that will delve into the very roots of our profession.

Alpha will also tell us a bit about the situation for press freedom in his country.

Moderator is Micke Godtfredsen (Finland).

Join us in an engaging webinar on December 12, 2024! REGISTER HERE.

Duration of the webinar: 90 minutes