Friday, March 29, 2024

Commitment to farmers wins

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Farmers Weekly has been named the best trade and specialist publication and website in the land. It beat the other finalists, Air New Zealand’s Kia Ora, NZ Doctor and 1972 from the Spinoff to take the award.
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“Farmers Weekly addresses issues of concern to farmers beyond the farm gate. Its companion website balances engaging content that adds a human dimension with news stories that are of critical importance to the rural community,” the judges said.

“That sums up what we are all about,” editor Bryan Gibson said.

“Our aim is to provide business, policy and political information farmers need to know in making decisions about running their farms.

“We put farmers first in everything we do.

“We don’t always tell them what they want to hear but we tell them what they need to know.

“Our newspaper and website are unashamed champions of the agriculture and horticulture sectors and primary industries but that doesn’t mean we ignore the difficult issues. We believe it’s important for farmers to know what the critics are saying and what the industry is doing to address those concerns.

“It’s important in these days of instant communications that farmers are aware of and responsive to issues here and abroad.

“But it’s also important that farmers are recognised for what they are doing, that their issues and difficulties receive due and appropriate consideration and that their stories are told. We do that by giving farmers a platform for their views, covering their activities in news stories and telling the New Zealand farming story one farmer at a time in our weekly feature On Farm Story which has an accompanying video,” Gibson said.

Owners Dean and Cushla Williamson, themselves farmers at Feilding, believe the award vindicates what they are trying to do.

“We back farming as critical to New Zealand’s economy and way of life,” Dean Williamson said.

“We’re hands-on in this company which exists to serve the agricultural community.

“It’s important that community has access to a comprehensive view of the major issues and decisions that affect it.

“We pride ourselves on our original news content, strong opinion section, our delivery of useful news to help farmers transition to a rapidly changing world and our ability to help them tell their stories.

“Everything we do is aimed at and for farmers.

“But our staff and contributors have editorial freedom to raise whatever issues they feel need an airing.

“It’s important to note the award was judged not in a farming context but in that of the entire media.

“That means we are on the right track. Convincing media judges we are doing the right thing and doing it well is something our staff can take satisfaction from.”

Farmers Weekly is produced by GlobalHQ, which also publishes Dairy Farmer magazine and runs the AgriHQ data and analysis service.

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Visit www.farmersweekly.co.nz and www.agrihq.co.nz

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