Instead I worked on the-then Federated Farmers’ newspaper, Straight Furrow, for seven years, and then had 11 years as The New Zealand Herald’s agricultural editor. More recently I’ve freelanced and edited a lifestyle block magazine.
There were some pretty major obstacles just getting the finished product to the printer before it was possible to send CDs or files electronically as it has been on the Exporter. Many times I physically drove proofs of Straight Furrow from Wellington up to the printers at Paraparaumu. Before that I spent a couple of days a fortnight at the Wanganui Chronicle, with compositors as they deftly used their scalpels to trim copy and photos to fit the tabloid pages.
On the Herald attending many a late night farmers’ meeting, (I never pass the Tatanui Hall without remembering some of the fiery gatherings there), I breathlessly phoned copy in to reporters in the office to appear in the next morning’s paper within hours. Some non-journalists had access to that system as well – one of the most terrifying went by the surname of Muldoon!
But in publishing, as with farming, it’s the people who make it all happen who seldom get recognised. I’ve been fortunate to have Anne Lee as a hard-working associate editor for the past four years, a large number of journalists keenly seeking out stories around the country, and reliable and well-read columnists, two of whom I “inherited”, Brian Hockings and Elaine Bell.
Sub-editors have a thankless task correcting other people’s mistakes and designers are charged with making the sometimes not very exciting look intriguing. Sales reps extolling the merits of advertising and subscriptions staff promoting the publication keep the bottom line in the shape it needs to be.
I’ve been most thankful to you, the readers. Some of your feedback has been heartfelt and that’s meant a lot to me, especially when we’ve taken a risk or two highlighting issues where there’s been some pressure to keep them under the carpet.
Despite the recent drop in dairy prices and the accompanying doom and gloom predictions from some commentators I couldn’t be more optimistic about the future of dairying and the fortunes of all those associated with it.
In a way I feel I don’t need to wish you all well … but I most certainly do.
Glenys
Footnote:
It is farewell to Glenys as editor of The New Zealand Dairy Exporter, but a hearty welcome to her continued contributions as editor-at-large.
Glenys’ new role has been tailored to reflect her expert knowledge of the dairy sector and her desire to continue contributing to the journey of the country’s only subscription dairy magazine.
Under Glenys’ editorship, and through three owners, Dairy Exporter has evolved from a free title to one only available by subscription. As Glenys has already noted, editorship is a privilege. It is one person’s chance to stamp their mark on a publication and it is an opportunity that Glenys has certainly embraced during the near-decade since she took over the reins.
Her drive and enthusiasm for the sector, and the people who earn their living from it, have guided her content and design decisions to produce a unique, prized publication read by thousands of readers across New Zealand and the rest of the world.
Glenys completes her stint in the editor’s seat safe in the knowledge the future of the magazine is in safe hands. We’ll introduce the new team, led by co-editors Anne Lee and Erin Hutchinson, in our next issue along with their plans to continue growing the status of the magazine in the future.
In the future, watch out for Glenys’ regular contributions in her new role and look for her at industry events and functions.
On behalf of all the readers, and the NZX Agri team, thank you Glenys for your substantial contribution to the magazine and the dairy industry over many years. We all look forward to that continuing in the future in your new role.
Tony Leggett
Head of NZX Agri
