Agricultural Journalism at Texas A&M

AGCJ has been a program at Texas A&M University since 1918. It is one of a dozen Agricultural Communications and Journalism programs in the country. Students in AGCJ take a core of courses including writing, editing, and senior seminar, in principles and in professional skills. The skills courses include publications production, public relations, and Internet communications. Graduates are prepared to work in news/magazine, broadcast, public relations, advertising, or multimedia. Some will work in fields of digital cable and satellite communications.

Modern Equipment

Professional courses provide the student with experience using the equipment found in newsrooms, television, and radio stations and the corporate world. This equipment includes:

• Computer labs: graphics, news writing, and multimedia.
• Television studio including digital non-linear editing.
• 35mm cameras, digital photography, and digital video.
• Audio laboratory.
• Broadcast production at KAMU-TV and KAMU-FM.

Practical Experience

AGCJ students produce the AgriLeader and the AgriLeader Ezine, agricultural magazines for all students, staff, and former students of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. AGCJ students participate in paid internships at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, livestock shows at San Antonio and Fort Worth, and various legislative initiatives in Austin.

National Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow

Texas A&M University is a member of Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow, a national student organization offering leadership to college students in agricultural communications. The goal of ACT is to foster career development skills and networking opportunities for agricultural communicators. For information regarding the Texas A&M Chapter, please visit our site at ACT.

Internships

One or two professional internships are expected to be completed for most students by graduation. Among the places students find employment is Agricultural Communications in the Texas Agricultural Extension/Experiment Station outreach program.

Agricultural Journalism Graduates

AGCJ graduates include editors and writers for such publications as the Quarter Horse Journal and the Farm Journal. Two Agricultural Communications and Journalism graduates have been elected to the Former Journalism Student Association Hall of Fame: Tom Hargrove '66 and Leroy Shafer '67, Chief Operating Officer of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

Jobs for graduates are readily available among places like membership associations such as the American Painthorse Association, public relations in such firms as Gibbs & Soell, agricultural writers, photographers or designers in agricultural publications and broadcast outlets, such as the Meredith Corporation.

Professional Journalism Organizations

Agricultural Communicators in Education

American Agricultural Editors' Association

The Council for the Advancement of Science Writing

International Federation of Agricultural Journalists

Investigative Reporters and Editors

The International Science Writers Association

National Association of Farm Broadcasters

National Association of Science Writers

Society of Environmental Journalists

Society of Professional Journalists

Student Journalism Organizations at Texas A&M

Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow (ACT)

The Battalion - Student Newspaper

Hispanic Journalist Association (HJA)

National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ)

Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA)

 

Radio, Television and News Directors Association (RTNDA)

Society of Professional Journalists Sigma Delta Chi (SPJ)

Agricultural Journalism & Communications Programs

Kansas State University

Oklahoma State University

Purdue University

Texas Tech University

University of Arkansas

University of Florida

University of Georgia

University of Nebraska - Lincoln

University of Missouri - Columbia

University of Wisconsin

Washington State University