AGRICULTURAL JOURNALISTS' ROLE IN MOBILIZING KNOWLEDGE...

Agricultural journalists’ role in mobilizing knowledge has never been more important. They need freedom to mobilize that knowledge.

Journalists are skilled at what is called knowledge mobilization – that is, “putting wheels on information,” moving it from a source to a user, getting feedback that makes knowledge advancement a collaborative effort. This knowledge is primarily the result of research. And the link between research and food safety could not be more clear.

Agricultural journalists are ‘ knowledge mobilizers.’ They work with knowledge creators in fields and laboratories, and along with others a such as agronomists, advisors and researchers themselves, they mobilize knowledge and put it in the hands of users.

Their vehicles and tools are the media by which they mobilize this knowledge — print, broadcast and social media, among them – which to varying degrees also provide a mechanism for feedback from users. In this era of questionable information – some call it fake news — agricultural journalists’ role in mobilizing reliable, helpful information that helps farmers, consumers, governments and others make informed choices has never been more important.

Agricultural journalists must be able to freely mobilize knowledge, to fully participate in their role in promoting sustainable food production.

OWEN ROBERTS, PRESIDENT OF IFAJ (International Federation of Agricultural Journalists), 6th World Food Safety Congress, Istanbul, Turkey, May 3, 2018

- Tarım Gıda Yazarları ve Gazetecileri Derneği (TAGYAD) olarak geçen yıl İstanbul'da düzenlediğimiz Ortadoğu Tarım Gazetecileri Forumu 6. Gıda Güvenliği Kongresi ile birlikte gerçekleşti. Forumda çok sayıda yabancı gazeteci dostumuzun yanı sıra IFAJ yöneticileri de yer aldı. IFAJ Başkanı Owen Roberts'ı Kongre Başkanı Samim Saner ve Prof. Dr. Barbaros Özer ile basın toplantısında konuşurken görüyoruz. Owen Roberts, tarım gazeteciliğinin doğru bilgi ve buna dayalı olarak 'bilgi seferberliği' alanında üstlendiği misyonu anlattı.