Would-be journalists attracted to farming

This was revealed in a paper presented to the recent Science Communicators Association conference by Dr Cathy Strong, a senior lecturer in journalism at Massey University. She and Rural News reporter Peter Burke organised the day.

Strong says a survey of the students indicated the trip increased their knowledge of the primary sector by about 34% and more for students who came from an urban background.

Strong says the agricultural project involved each student writing a news report on the state of NZ agriculture and producing a video news item about an aspect of the field day. She says the survey of the students also showed the trip increased their interest in covering agricultural stories.

"What we were trying to do was entice bright young journalists to be able to cover agricultural stories. There is no doubt that the experience of seeing farming firsthand helps in this process."

Strong says a similar trip is planned for next year.

Meanwhile, Rural News reporter Peter Burke also presented details of a field trip for secondary school teachers which he and DairyNZ's Susan Stokes have organised for the last three years.

He told the conference that the trip has now become a popular event for teachers, who say it gives them valuable information to direct young people into agricultural careers.

One teacher told Burke they will be using the examples of the field day to include in business and economics classes. Others have commented on how much they have learned about the breadth of career opportunities in agriculture.

Burke adds they have already been asked by some teachers to run the trip over two days and this is now being looked at.