The Deadline for Submitting Nominations for the 2016 Agricultural Communicators of the Year Is Thursday, Sept
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Feb. 19, 2016 County Farm Bureaus: The deadline for submitting nominations for the 2016 Agricultural Communicators of the Year is Thursday, Sept. 1. The Agricultural Communicators of the Year award, presented annually since 1975, recognizes members of print, television, radio and online news outlets for outstanding coverage of agricultural issues, for both farmers and the non-farming public. MFB’s Information and Public Relations Division accepts nominations in two separate categories—print/digital media (newspapers, magazines and websites) and broadcast media (television and radio). You’ll find the award criteria and nomination form below. Typically, nominees are individual reporters or broadcasters, although teams (such as a reporter and photographer working together on a story or series) or an entire news organization (a TV or radio station spotlighting agriculture on a regular basis) also should be considered. Include all contributors who should be credited. A panel of judges will select up to two winners for the state Agricultural Communicators of the Year—normally one print recipient and one broadcast recipient. State winners are honored at the MFB Annual Meeting. In the meantime, consider doing the following between now and September: 1. Ask for nominations from your county’s board members, administrative manager, communications committee, newsletter editor, informed members, etc. Choose your winners from media professionals and organizations fitting the selection criteria. 2. Plan to recognize your winner(s) at your county annual meeting, preferably with a certificate of appreciation and public acknowledgement at the meeting. 3. Nominate your local winner(s) for the state awards. Submit nomination forms and attach copies of work samples (see selection criteria for examples) to me at the home office by Sept. 1, 2016. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call or email me. Sincerely, Brian VanOchten MFB Local Media Specialist (517) 323-6584 [email protected] cc: County Administrative Managers, MFB Regional Representatives AWARD CRITERIA: MFB Agricultural Communicator of the Year Award 1. County Farm Bureaus may nominate up to two Agricultural Communicators of the Year—one for print/web and one for broadcast media—but not two in the same category. Nominees must be from a newspaper/website, radio or television station, or magazine not affiliated with Michigan Farm Bureau or MSU Extension. 2. Nominate your communicator(s) based on the quality of the job representing agriculture and Farm Bureau policy—not on the size of readership or audience. Journalists at small, weekly newspapers can be just as qualified as a team of reporters and photographers at a large, metropolitan-area daily. Typically, winners are those who have covered agriculture well over a period of time, but a communicator who develops even one outstanding story is eligible, if the work merits nomination. 3. Typically, winners are individual reporters. A single news organization (such as a radio, television, newspaper or magazine staff) is eligible if it uses a team of personnel to regularly cover agricultural issues. Likewise, winners can be a "team" from a single news organization (such as a reporter and a photographer or cameraman who work together on a news story or series). 4. Prior honorees are eligible for selection again. (See list of previous winners below.) 5. Clippings of newspaper/magazine articles are required for print nominees (nominations submitted electronically can email clippings to MFB Local Media Specialist Brian VanOchten or mail them to Michigan Farm Bureau at the address below). For radio and television, support materials (such as transcripts and/or recorded broadcasts) are helpful, but not required. Please be as descriptive as possible and thoroughly explain your nominee's coverage of agricultural events and issues. 6. Nominations must be submitted no later than Sept. 1, 2016 to Michigan Farm Bureau’s Information and Public Relations Division. Mail paper nominations and/or article clippings (clearly identified) to: Michigan Farm Bureau Attn: Brian VanOchten 7373 W. Saginaw Hwy. Lansing, Ml 48909-8460 [email protected] Note: Local recognition is important! Please be sure to thank outstanding media professionals in your community for promoting and educating the public about Michigan’s agriculture industry whenever it is deserved. NOMINATION FORM: MFB Agricultural Communicator of the Year Award Nominee's name: _________________________________________________ Print ___ Web ___ Broadcast ___ Name of publication/website/station: _____________________________________________________________ Phone: __________________ Address: _____________________________________________________________ Email: _______________________________________________________________________________________ Please answer the following questions as completely as possible; attach additional pages as needed. 1. Explain the issues or events covered by your nominee: 2. Describe any other special projects/extraordinary coverage of farm issues/ events by your nominee: 3. Describe how your nominee has worked with your county Farm Bureau and other local ag groups: 4. Explain why your nominee should be selected as the MFB Agricultural Communicator of the Year: Nominating County Farm Bureau: _________________________________________________________________ By: __________________________________________________________________________________________ (Signature of county president or county administrative manager) PRIOR RECIPIENTS: MFB Agricultural Communicator of the Year Award 2015—Craig Routzahn, WLEW-AM Huron County; Jerry Goshert, The Farmer’s Exchange southwest Michigan 2014—Jeff Hogan, Lapeer County Press 2013—Cindy Crain Newman, Midland Daily News; Michael Redford, WDCQ’a “Second Act: Life at 50+” 2012—Tanya Wildt, Heritage Newspapers; WZZM 13 News, Grand Rapids 2011—Terry Katz, Sturgis Journal 2010—Amy Bell, Hillsdale Daily News 2009—Jessica Dudenhofer, Greenville Daily News; Matt Vande Bunte & Nancy Crawley, Grand Rapids Press 2008—Kirsten Kelly & Anne de Mare, Spargel Productions; Edward Freundl, Heritage Newspapers West 2007—Rosemary Parker, Kalamazoo Gazette; Mark Torregrossa, WEYI 25 Clio 2006—Janelle Brose, Michigan Farm Radio Network; Dean Cousino, Monroe Evening News 2005—Maria Mulder-Brown, Tri-City Times; Tom Montgomery, Cass City Chronicle 2004—Rob Clark, Bay City Times; Bill Lewis, WYTZ Radio Benton Harbor 2003—Cheryl Ciske, The Voice, New Baltimore; Rick Shields, WKZO Radio Kalamazoo 2002—Stacey Langley, Huron Daily Tribune; Peri Stone-Palmquist, Ann Arbor News 2001—Nancy Barriger, Tuscola County Advertiser; Karen Tremble, Michigan Farm Radio Network 2000—Ed Mandel, The Source; Terry Henne, WSGW Radio 1999—Paul Jackson, Business Direct Weekly; Jill Haake, Bay City Times 1998—Kirk Haverkamp, Romeo Observer; Kevin Allen, WKJC Radio 1997—Rhoda Miel, Saginaw News; Mario lacobelli, TV 9/10 WWTV/WWUP-TV Cadillac 1996—Karl Albrecht, Bay City Times 1995—Mark Sanchez, Holland Sentinel; Rick Duerson, WGLQ/WCHT, Escanaba 1994—Larry See, Jr., Monroe Guardian; Merlin Dumbrille, WTCM-AM Traverse City 1993—Kathleen Gray, Oakland Press; Greg Yoder, WMPC Lapeer 1992—Bob Armstrong, WMIC Sandusky; Marg Higgins, Traverse City Record-Eagle 1991—Matt Seward, Cadillac Evening News 1990—Pat Driscoll, Michigan Farm Radio Network; Bob Driscoll, WPZA Ann Arbor; Marg Higgins, Traverse City Record-Eagle 1989—Mike Mitchell, WKJC Tawas City; Robert Selwa, Macomb Daily, Mt. Clemens 1988—H. Allen Wamsley, Huron Daily Tribune; John Haupricht and Deb McCollum, Channel 5 Bay City/Saginaw 1987—Mike Vaughn, WWMT-TV Kalamazoo; Kathy Longcore, Grand Rapids Press 1986—Bob Driscoll, Michigan Farm Radio Network; Mike VanBuren, Kalamazoo Gazette 1985—Mike VanBuren, Kalamazoo Gazette; Harvey Klann, WHAK Rogers City 1984—Robert Armstrong, WMIC Sandusky; James Weicker, Jackson Citizen-Patriot 1983—Bob Driscoll, Michigan Farm Radio Network; Kathy Longcore, Grand Rapids Press 1982—Tom Haroldson, Kalamazoo Gazette; Mary Kelly, WBKB-TV Alpena 1981—Bob Driscoll, Michigan Farm Radio Network; Raymond Smith, Climax Crescent; Eric Levin, WMIC Sandusky 1980—David Fortin, WPBN-TV Traverse City; Ben Leonard, Farmers’ Advance; Karl Guenther, WKZO Kalamazoo 1979—Howard Heath, Michigan Farm Radio Network (scholarship contribution in lieu of posthumous award); Scott Killgore, WJR Detroit; Jim Brown, Ingham County News; Harold Sparks, WDOW Dowagiac 1978—Scott Killgore, WJR Detroit; Jim Bernstein, WKZO-TV Kalamazoo; Robert Grnak, Saginaw Valley News 1977—Terry Henne, WSGW; Tom Stersic, Kalamazoo Gazette; Ross Woodstock, WRBJ 1976—Herb Schmidt, WBCM Bay City; Karl Guenther, WKZO Kalamazoo; Evelyn Stringham, Jackson Citizen-Patriot 1975—Howard Heath, Michigan Farm Radio Network; R. E. Hosteller, Fremont Times-Indicator; Karl Guenther, WKZO Kalamazoo .