IFAJ Meets With Thai Guild

During the Exposure-4-Development tour in Thailand in September, the 12 members of IFAJ met with members of the Agricultural Mass Media Association of Thailand (AMMAT), the Thai guild of agricultural journalists.

The meeting, which was held at Kasetsart University, was organized by East West Seed. A grant from Syngenta covered the cost of simultaneous translation, which allowed more than 40 participants to engage in conversation about trends in agricultural media.

Pinyo Paengtafsong, president of AMMAT, welcomed the group and set the stage for dialogue on industry trends. As in most markets, Thai agricultural journalists face shrinking media and busy audiences looking for fast access to information. Paengtafsong is a broadcaster on the national public television station, which offers agricultural content. However, many members of AMMAT have already navigated the transition from print to fully online media.

Several Thai presenters shared the business models they developed as they moved their magazines to online platforms, or moved from print to YouTube and other video media.

The IFAJ group included a range of freelance print, staff print and broadcast reporters. Members shared concerns and described their approaches to the economic and logistical challenges they face at home.

“The dialogue with our Thai colleagues was fascinating and productive,” said Steve Werblow, IFAJ president. “We face so many common challenges; it’s fascinating to see how different professionals address them to ensure that they can continue bringing important information to their audiences in new ways.”

Caroline Stocks of the British Guild of Agricultural Journalists said the opportunity to compare notes with colleagues from around the world was extremely engaging.

“It was so interesting to speak to journalists in Thailand, as well as the other IFAJ members on the tour, and learn about the challenges they face in making sure their readers are properly informed about the developments in agriculture,” she said. “Despite the distance between Thailand and Europe, the issues BGAJ and AMMAT members deal with are incredibly similar.”

Steve Werblow pointed out that the meeting was the result of connections and planning by staffers of East West Seed, as well as a grant from Syngenta.

“We are very grateful to Maya Mueller, Dr. May Chodchoey and Arpha Wiswapipat of East West Seed for bringing IFAJ together with AMMAT and organizing such a spectacular meeting,” Werblow added. “The meeting was an ideal way to kick off our Syngenta-funded Global Network Partnership program, which is designed for opportunities like this to bring IFAJ to guilds around the world. I hope we will maintain our connections with AMMAT and someday get to welcome the guild and its members into IFAJ.”

Pinyo Paengtafsong, president of the Agricultural Mass Media Association of Thailand (AMMAT) shares his insights on challenges facing Thai agricultural journalists while IFAJ president Steve Werblow listens.