Corporate Communication
Corporate communication is effective communication from companies to other businesses, which is very important today with consolidations, nontraditional competition and expansions. It is helping maintain open channels of communication with clients and company employees. Other areas of importance in corporate communications are corporate positioning, issues management, crisis communication, and internal/employee communications.
Information Specialists
Information specialists are needed for federal, state and local government job positions. The International Association of Agricultural Information Specialists (IAAID) states that specialists are needed for development and communication among members of the agricultural community. This includes producing publications and audiovisual materials, along with radio, television, and print releases.
Magazines
Magazines are always looking for an employee with a communication background. There are thousands of specialized magazines aimed at agriculture. Magazines need writers, editors, photographers, graphic designers, and marketing specialists. A lot of magazines have taken their image to the Web, so site designers are in demand, as well. Many people like this field because it gives them a chance to go out there and get their hands dirty. There is some reading, writing, and researching that goes into this career.
Newspapers
Newspapers often hire agricultural communicators. There are numerous agricultural papers printed on a daily, weekly or monthly basis that want people with this background. General newspapers sometimes look for people who can interpret agricultural science and explain it to the general public. Being able to communicate environmental issues, health and food safety, and scientific breakthroughs is an asset.
Public Relations
Public Relations is managing communication and projecting a public image of a business so other organizations can relate. PR people use newspapers, magazines, trade shows, television, and radio to help project that image. There is a demand for people with excellent organizational, interpersonal and writing skills. Achieva (a PR firm) says that the media has the power to shape public perceptions of critical issues.
Broadcasting
Broadcasting is the oral aspect of communication. The National Association of Farm Broadcasters is one example of broadcasting in the ag industry. Many farmers turn on their radios every day to hear what farm broadcasters have to say. Broadcasting is a powerful advertising tool and can reach millions very quickly. Now, with the Internet, there is also Internet broadcasting at your fingertips.
International Development
International Development is outreach to others through research in hopes of improving broad-based growth and reduction of poverty through agriculture. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), hires communicators to work in the United States and overseas to help create solutions to problems like world hunger or other problems facing agriculture worldwide. USAID has numerous employment opportunities for people interested in this career. They even offer some student programs.
Advertising and Marketing
Advertising and Marketing is very important to the agriculture industry and can be found in numerous related ag-based businesses. Meyocks & Priebe is an advertising company with endless clientele. A business like this one is looking to hire grads with knowledge of agriculture to work as copywriters, graphic designers and advertising specialists. Companies like Meyocks & Priebe deal with numerous aspects of marketing and advertising, such as public relations, branding and sales promotions.
Freelance Communications
Freelance Communications is an independent way to go. A number of agricultural communicators go into business for themselves offering various services, such as writing, editing, graphic design, consulting, and more. AgroTech Communications is a group of freelance writers that came together to form a business that focuses on biobased sciences. AgroTech has a Web site you can look at to see what the employees do and to learn more about freelance communications.
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