News

Successful ACAJ-CSIRO Collaboration on Climate Change
A joint venture between the Australian Council of Agricultural Journalists (ACAJ) and CSIRO has helped profile vital issues on climate change facing the Australian farm sector. CSIRO prepared a major report which formed the basis of functions hosted across Australia by ACAJ affiliates.

International judging panel awards top hounour to rural editor
Good Fruit and Vegetables magazine editor Brad Cooper has been selected by an international panel of judges to receive the 2008 Australian Star Prize for Rural Journalism. The Brisbane-based journalist will now represent Australia in the world’s most prestigious professional competition for rural journalists – the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ) Star Prize for Agricultural Journalism.

Newspaper columnist named first Rural Media Icon
Well-known media advocate for regional and rural issues, Angela Goode has been inducted as the inaugural South Australian Rural Media Icon. (2 June 2008)

Alltech award winner visits Melbourne
Western Australian journalist Paul Hooper was honoured during the first day of an Asia-Pacific Lecture Tour that is taking a group of leading scientists, feed industry and bio-fuel experts to 16 countries in just 20 days to explore issues relating to increasing competition for limited grain resources. The tour is being organised by US-based animal nutrition company Alltech which also sponsors the ACAJ’s annual Young Leaders in Rural Journalism award.

As winner of the 2007 award, Paul travelled overseas in September to meet colleagues from around the world and attend the IFAJ Congress in Japan. He is pictured (left) with Alltech founder and president Dr Pearse Lyons, who presented Paul to delegates at the Melbourne whistle-stop for the tour on Monday, October 29.

Also read about Paul's experience at the IFAJ Japanese Congress.

Aussie photographer scores international success
Australian photographer Fiona Lake has won an honourable mention in the world’s top photography award for rural photographers. (5 October 2007)

Members return from Japan world congress

Australia was represented by a six member delegation to the successful 2007 IFAJ annual congress in Japan.  The team comprised IFAJ executive member Liz Kellaway, Leigh Radford, and Edwina Farley from the ABC, NSW communicator Neil Inall,  Alltech Young Leader Award winner Paul Hooper and Matthew Cawood, winner of the NSW Star Prize for rural writing. Read Edwina’s account of her Japanese experience  

ACAJ president honoured in Queensland

Australian Council of Agricultural Journalists president Gordon Collie has been awarded life membership of the Queensland Rural Press Club.

Gordon became an active member as a young reporter for Queensland Country Life in the mid 1970s. He lead the revival of the club as president from 2000 to 2003.

Alltech award winner visits Melbourne
Western Australian journalist Paul Hooper was honoured during the first day of an Asia-Pacific Lecture Tour that is taking a group of leading scientists, feed industry and bio-fuel experts to 16 countries in just 20 days to explore issues relating to increasing competition for limited grain resources. The tour is being organised by US-based animal nutrition company Alltech which also sponsors the ACAJ’s annual Young Leaders in Rural Journalism award. As winner of the 2007 award, Paul travelled overseas in September to meet colleagues from around the world and attend the IFAJ Congress in Japan. He is pictured (left) with Alltech founder and president Dr Pearse Lyons, who presented Paul to delegates at the Melbourne whistle-stop for the tour on Monday, October 29. (30 October 2007)

Aussie photographer scores international success
Australian photographer Fiona Lake has won an honourable mention in the world’s top photography award for rural photographers. (5 October 2007)

Young leader’s award opens doors for Australian winner
Winner of the 2007 Alltech Australian Young Leaders Agricultural Journalism Award, Paul Hooper, writes about his experiences in Japan where he attended the 2007 International Federation of Australian Journalists (IFAJ) conference as part of his award prize. (2 October 2007)


IFAJ Congress in Japan
Six Australian journalists and broadcasters took part in the first IFAJ Congress in Asia, held in Japan last month. The sell-out event attracted rural journalists and communicators from more than 20 countries, and provided rare opportunities to visit Japanese farms and agricultural research sites, food processors, wholesale and retail markets, and to discuss agricultural policy, including Australia’s negotiations with Japan to establish a Free Trade Agreement.

Australians off to Japan
Six Australian journalists and broadcasters are off to Japan in September 2007 to participate in the sold-out IFAJ annual congress.

The contingent includes ABC Rural national editor Leigh Radford, Melbourne-based ABC Rural Radio national reporter Edwina Farley, Farm Weekly journalist and Alltech Young Leaders Award winner Paul Hooper, NSW communicator Neil Inall, the winner of the NSW Star Prize for rural writing, The Land journalist Matthew Cawood and Australia's official IFAJ delegate Liz Kellaway.

For more information about the event go to http://www.knt.co.jp/ec/2006/ifaj-e/

Past ACAJ president awarded Queens Honour

Immediate past president Colin Munro has been awarded an Order of Australia Medal in the 2007 Queen's Birthday honours list for his service to regional Australia through the promotion and preservation of rural culture, particularly through television and radio.

The former head of the ABC's rural radio department, he spent his younger days on a property at Cobargo. Colin hosted a number of rural programs, including the Country Hour, Morning Extra, Australia All Over and Summer All Over during some 40 years with the national broadcaster. He was the ABC's Manager of Regional Liaison from 1993-2005, and Head of Rural Radio from 1985-1993. Colin was also instrumental in developing the popular television program, A Big Country.

National rural writing & photo prizes to SA

South Australian entrants have won two prestigious national rural media awards for writing and photography in 2007. The Australian Star Prize for Rural Writing, sponsored by John Deere, with a cash prize of $1,000, has been awarded to Aimee Pedler, a senior journalist with the Stock Journal.

The Australian Star Prize for Rural Photography went to Tait Schmaal from the Adelaide Advertiser. Runner-up was Louise Donges from Queensland Country Life.

Media release >

Alltech Award to top young WA journalist

Paul Hooper from Western Australia has won the prestigious Alltech Young Leaders in Agricultural Journalism Award for 2007.

Paul, who is wool, business and transport writer for Farm Weekly, was selected from a field of outstanding candidates representing member states of the Australian Council of Agricultural Journalists (ACAJ).

Media release >

WA club launches new website

The Rural Media Association of WA has a new website. The site was launched at a special event at Victoria Park. Visit the site at www.rmawa.asn.au/