Media Appreciation Night 2007
Saddle Up-
Come along for the ride!
Thursday, July 26
5:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Location: Clovis Rodeo Grounds
Award Presentation: 6:30 p.m.
Fresno County Farm Bureau announced the recipients of its 13th annual Journalism Awards at the organization’s Media Appreciation Night held Thursday, July 26 at the Clovis Rodeo Grounds.
Recognized for excellence in agriculture reporting were:
General Print Media:
First place in general print media:
- Dennis Pollock, The Fresno Bee for a series of articles on the 2007 Citrus Freeze: “Citrus loses may hit $1 billion,” “Citrus growers short on propane,” & “Lost: Valley growers of exotic greens suffer at least $1.9M in damage from freeze.”
Runner-up in general print media:
- Gabriel Dillard, The Business Journal for “Old MacDonald’s farm goes high tech,” a look at the mechanization and increased technology used in agriculture.
Honorable Mention:
- Jullian Brackett, Reedley Exponent for “Vanishing bees alarm ag community,” an article about the Colony Collapse Disorder and the impact on bees and pollination.
Agricultural Print Media
First place in agricultural print media:
- Catherine Merlo, Dairy Today for “Tarnished Gold: Dairies struggle with the downside of the ethanol boom,” a look at how increases in corn prices from ethanol demand have affected dairies’ bottom lines.
Runner-Up in agricultural print media:
- Bob Krauter, Capital Press for a series of articles: “Push in on for guest worker reform bill” & “Immigration reform heats up,” a comprehensive review of immigration reform efforts in Washington D.C.
Television Media
First place in television media:
- Dale Yurong/Sam Gill, KFSN-ABC 30 for “Private Water Bank,” a look at one way a west side farmer is coping with chronic water shortages -- by building his own water bank that also is used by local students to learn about waterfowl and the environment.
Runner-up in television media:
- Vanessa Ramirez/Joseph Munoz, KFTV-21 Univision for “Heladas- The freeze,” A two-part series providing a comprehensive overview of the impacts from the January 2007 freeze on the citrus industry – its growers, farm workers, and communities – months after the freeze.
Honorable Mention:
- Francisco Lopez Mireles/Wayne Hutchinson, KFTV-21 Univision for “A day with an immigrant,” a two-part series that follows the life of a family from Mexico that came to the Valley to work in the fields --a very compelling and artistically filmed view of a farmworker from sun-up to sun-down.
Radio Media
First place in radio:
- Sasha Khokha, The California Report, KQED Public Radio for “Hot Cows,” a report about the effects of a prolonged heat wave on dairy cows the central San Joaquin Valley.
Runner-up in radio:
- Sasha Khokha, The California Report, KQED Public Radio for “Small farmers cope with freeze losses,” a report about the effects of the January 2007 freeze on small farmers of specialty crops
More than 35 entries were received from local publications, television and radio stations. The criteria for the awards are: awareness of agriculture’s importance in the Valley, demonstration of knowledge, educational element for the non-farm public, and thorough and objective coverage of the issue. News articles or stories published or broadcasted from June 30, 2006 to June 30, 2007 were eligible.
Serving as judges were: Patrick Cavanaugh, editor, Malcolm Media; Russel Efird, FCFB President; Lanny Larson, University Communications, California State University, Fresno; Frances Squire, marketing director, West Hills Community College District; and Terrie Valdero, Fresno-Kings County CattleWomen and Clovis Rodeo Association.
There was no shortage of agricultural-related news during the judging period. Last summer’s heat wave and its impacts on crops and livestock, legislative issues centered around immigration reform, food safety and water policy, and the 2007 Freeze that destroyed vulnerable crops and rural communities were subjects covered by the nominations. “The quality of the entries made the selection process difficult. Each entry was worthy of recognition,” said Efird.
More than 200 people were on-hand for the annual media appreciation event.