My World of Ag Communication

Ag literacy at its finest!

erhoades — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 23:07:18 +0000

I love to check out the images of the week on MSNBC.com every once in a while, and was amazed at what I found today. The amount of ag literacy in America is depressing. If anyone can get it right, I’d hope it would be media. But if they are getting it wrong how can we expect general citizens too. I have been working with several of my students looking at portrayals of ag online, especially related to groups against ag. It is a never ending battle, but one we must win. I’m no animal science expert, but I did grow up on a sheep farm. I KNOW this is no goat! Reuters get it right please!

“Exhibitors are seen beside a goat at the Stock Show in Fort Worth, Texas January 31, 2009.”

Social Technographics

erhoades — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 19:25:43 +0000

So theories in new technology are still scarce. Many researchers are looking at the new media through old lenses, which they should. However, I have stumbled across Forrester’s idea of Social Technographics and I find it intriguing. His step approach to how individuals are using new media reminds me of classic Rogers’ Diffusion Theory, but puts it in a new perspective. See his chart below (which can also be found at the link above).

http://blogs.forrester.com/charleneli/2007/04/forresters_new_.html

If you follow Roger’s theory related to this one you would see that in terms of “Web 2.0″ we are still at a stage of early diffusion. Not surprising. What I find even more interesting is their discussions on how it can be used when we think of our audiences. Who are you trying to reach? With what new media. They note you should reach the creators who can give your message on down the ladder, but what about Ag where there are (I would guess) few creators.

I am getting ready to do a survey with media… I will be adding this theory into it to test it out a little further. I would love to test farmers as well (anyone interested in studying their reader/listenership?) Keep you posted…

A PR blog to follow

erhoades — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 12:41:03 +0000

I have been following this blog for a while, and find it a thought provoking site. I thought I would share it with you http://www.briansolis.com/ Brian talks about Web 2.0 and its role and impact in public relations and marketing

Warm and Fuzzy

erhoades — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 14:35:17 +0000

Ok I know blogging two seconds apart isn’t the point. But I just wanted to share something positive after my last post. I work a ton, and in my husband’s words “You are at work with your students more than you are at home.” I wonder some days if people I do stuff for realize what I sacrifice for them. But in the last week I have gotten notes from two of my recent graduates thanking me for all I did for them. Those notes make it worth it, they make the bad comments from frustrated students ok. Just a reminder to thank the people in your life who help you and mean something to you. You don’t realize how much that means to them.

Work

erhoades — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 14:31:03 +0000

Right now I feel that “work” defines me. We are finishing our basement in between business trips and work days. But through it all I am getting so much done. I have gotten several research articles out the door the last few days and I have made some connections for some future research. I think at my age and place in life there isn’t much I can do about the work, but keep trying to have fun one day a week. I try my hardest to have one day for me… granted this week that day was spent putting on a third coat of paint before the carpet comes. Oh Well. It will slow down someday.

Do you double dip?

erhoades — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 01:43:35 +0000

I was reading a blog I follow called “Tomorrow’s Professor” and they posted a discussion being held in the field of Political Science where faculty are double presenting papers at different conferences. I was taught in graduate school that this isn’t something you should do. Would we want our journalists to publish the same story twice? Or is that what we call AP? One argument being made is that many conference presentations are made in front of 10 or less people. I have heard that same argument made in ag comm and ag ed. At our recent ACE meeting we probably had 15 people in the room, and I was excited that it was such a great turn out. At that meeting we discussed a related issue of what determines publication. In the sister association of AAAE authors will present a paper at a regional meeting then present it again, after revisions, to the national meeting. It is published in proceedings CDs both times and then, most of the time, sent to a journal after final revisions. The argument behind this is that each step allows for discussion and better development of the piece. At ACE we typically have published a CD, but this year we moved to a CD only containing abstracts, as some people felt that by putting full papers on the CD, that mind you only 10-15 people get, it is published and shouldn’t be sent to a journal.

I see both sides of these issues. My tenure committee isn’t going to want to see me with only 5 studies I have presented twice and then published, the want to see me doing a multitude of studies presented and published. A few articles that have followed that flow are ok, but it cannot look like I am “milking” the article or study. So I am very cautious in what I publish and where. But I do not feel that a CD is necessarily publication, and I don’t agree with the Political Science field in that you can present twice. AAAE is set up as regional meetings and not every article moves up, so I don’t see the big problem there.

So what constitutes publication? What constitutes presentation? Final presentation? I have taken an article I presented at AAAE and used the same data in a workshop at ACE. Is that double dipping? I am sharing my research (and I cited myself). What do you think?

A reminder…

erhoades — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 18:36:39 +0000

From what we get, we can make a living; what we give, however, makes a life.

— Arthur Ashe

Watch what you blog!

erhoades — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 18:25:12 +0000

I use blogging in a lot of my courses in engage the students outside of the classroom on the topics discussed in the classroom. I feel (while I haven’t gotten to study it yet) it is a good way to engage their critical thinking. However I now must add into my blogging instructions on day one something about legality.

A recent study out of the University of Washington discusses the fact that the number of bloggers expressing their political beliefs being arrested is increasing. The study found most arrest were occurring in the Middle East and Asia where technology restrictions are in place, but some have been found in North America as well.

What my students are more like to face however are the new regulations being set out by the AP recently. They indicate they are going to form guidelines on how their information can be cited by bloggers. I know many bloggers who quote articles, many journalists who quote them as well. They are getting some backlash by bloggers who claim fair use in citing their work. This will be an important and interesting thing to follow as it unfolds. The articles state that AP currently charges by the word, I am impressed they have the time to police it and the means to enforce it.

A great idea for my law class to study!!!

Where to work

erhoades — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 02:13:43 +0000

So I just noticed an article on MSN about how more people are working from home. It is interesting in the article they report that 25% spend less than 1 hour doing office work at home. Now first of I am skeptical because typically research like this isn’t based on a large generalizable sample, and I can’t believe people would do that. I work from home as much as I can (1 to save gas and 2 to not be interrupted like I am on campus), especially when I am grading or doing research writing. I find once I get going I am much more focused and relaxed. Do I sway from my work? I am human, and I enjoy a half hour of TV for a break or a walk out to see the horses on our farm.

What this study doesn’t show you however, is the thing that makes me feel it is ok that I take those breaks. I may not have that structured 9-5, but when I work from home I miss the 2 hour commute back and forth and I work much later into the day (sometimes until 8 or 9). I recently talked with Kevin Gamble from eXtension at NC State about how the eXtension team works a lot from remote locations and stays in touch through twitter and other new social networking technologies. The workforce may no longer being doing our parent’s 9-5, but I sure know I put in my 50-60 hour weeks. Many people I have talked to, including Kevin, agree that given this flexibility people are happier and work harder, smarter, and more effectively when allowed to work where they want. So if you are hunting me down this summer and I am not in my office, I might be working at a picnic table at the state park by my house, happily writing up some research!

Is it education or a business?

erhoades — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 14:28:41 +0000

I am currently teaching a magazine production course, and I find myself constantly balancing learning and running a business. The students do not see the divide, but for this to be a successful venture for all involved, I must keep the two separate in my mind. While thinking about this I am reminded that everything we do in academia follows this narrow line. Are our students our customers? Or are we there to teach them? In today’s budgeting system it is all about credit hours (and grants, but I am talking teaching), and to bring students in the classroom I am having to market my courses. While I am ok working in a business model, I worry that some days that clouds my ability to focus on the thing that is most important here: teaching future communicators!