{"id":17462,"date":"2026-03-19T18:10:36","date_gmt":"2026-03-19T18:10:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wordpress.library.illinois.edu\/funkaces\/?p=17462"},"modified":"2026-03-19T18:10:36","modified_gmt":"2026-03-19T18:10:36","slug":"acdc-news-issue-26-03","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wordpress.library.illinois.edu\/funkaces\/acdc-news-issue-26-03\/","title":{"rendered":"ACDC News &#8211; Issue 26-03"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>Download a <a href=\"http:\/\/wordpress.library.illinois.edu\/funkaces\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/53\/2026\/03\/DocNews26-03.pdf\">printer-friendly PDF<\/a> of this issue.<\/h2>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>Update on Americans\u2019 trust in food and nutrition science<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>We are adding to the ACDC collection findings of an online 2025 national survey by the International Food Information Council (IFIC). This survey assessed Americans\u2019 trust in food and nutrition science. Among the results:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Nearly two-thirds (64%) of 1,018 adults in the probability sample expressed at least some trust in food and nutritional science.<\/li>\n<li>However, 72% expressed concerns that dietary recommendations are changing constantly, leaving them confused, frustrated, doubtful, and curious.<\/li>\n<li>Respondents said they are most likely to trust food advice that is evidence-based, simple, and delivered by registered dietitians.<\/li>\n<li>\u201cBy contrast, advice driven by shock tactics or social media popularity is far less trusted.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>You can read \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/ific.org\/research\/trust-in-food-nutrition-science\/\">Americans\u2019 trust in food and nutrition science<\/a>\u201d by open access.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>\u201cAttitudes in China about crops and food developed by biotechnology\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>That is the title of a 2015 <em>Plos One<\/em> article we are adding to the ACDC collection.<\/p>\n<p>A team of Chinese and U.S. researchers investigated the attitudes of consumers, BT cotton farmers, and scientists in China regarding genetically modified (GM) crops and food. Data were collected using interview surveys. Among the findings:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>BT cotton farmers had a \u201cvery positive attitude because BT cotton provided them with significant economic benefits.\u201d<\/li>\n<li>Consumers from developed regions had a higher acceptance and willingness to pay for GM foods than consumers in other regions.<\/li>\n<li>The scientific community held a positive attitude toward GM foods.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Authors concluded that \u201cmore effective educational efforts by government agencies and public media concerning the scientific facts and safety of GM foods would enhance the acceptance of GM crops in China.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>You can read \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/journals.plos.org\/plosone\/article?id=10.1371\/journal.pone.0139114\">Attitudes in China about crops and foods developed by biotechnology<\/a>\u201d by open access.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>Harnessing the power of AI (together)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Steve Werblow, president of the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ), devoted his recent \u201cPresident\u2019s Message\u201d to the complexities of using generative artificial intelligence.<\/p>\n<p>AI is \u201cgetting better and better at impersonating journalists, creating a very tempting opportunity for publishers and broadcasters to try to replace human insight with instant computer copy. All these threats illustrate why IFAJ membership is more important than it has ever been. &#8230; As AI spreads, \u201cthe perspective and knowledge of professional agricultural journalists and communicators becomes more important.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTogether, we will celebrate IFAJ\u2019s 70<sup>th<\/sup> anniversary all year long,\u201d he concluded. \u201cWe will learn to harness the power of AI as a reporting and research tool while also learning to compete with computer-generated copy. We will support and strengthen guilds around the world, build our networks and steer into the future.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>You can read \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ifaj.org\/article\/presidents-message-steve-werblow-2\/\">President\u2019s message \u2013 Steve Werblow<\/a>\u201d by open access.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>On falling confidence in USDA statistics<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The U.S. Department of Agriculture is responding to indications that most producers, economists, and retailers have waning confidence in USDA reporting. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced last month that the Department is issuing a Request for Information (RFI) to examine USDA\u2019s statistical data collection, analysis and research.<\/p>\n<p>You can read \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.agrimarketing.com\/s\/156341\">USDA seeks input on data collection as confidence falls<\/a>\u201d by open access.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>Is there a rural-urban divide over killing wildlife?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Researcher Debra Merskin addressed that question in a 2022 issue of the <em>Journalism and Media<\/em> journal. She noted that \u201cManagement practices of nonhuman animals in nature (\u201cwildlife\u201d) are globally controversial. In some places, individuals believe it should be up to individual landowners to \u2018manage\u2019 wildlife. In others, wildlife is seen as belonging to everyone and should be respected or at least hunted ethically.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Her research involved a critical discourse analysis of testimonies in 2021 Oregon (U.S.) hearings involving a possible ban on coyote killing contests. Such contests are legal in most U.S. states.<\/p>\n<p>Analysis of testimony revealed disregard for science. \u201cProponents state the issue is not a rural\/urban divide, while opponents claim the opposite is true,\u201d Merskin concluded. She suggested that \u201cfuture campaigns dedicated to conserving wildlife and science-based arguments for changes in predator management practices need to focus less on the animals and more on the attitudes about rural people\u2019s experiences if they wish to proceed in enacting changes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>You can read \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2673-5172\/3\/2\/22\">Coyote killing contests: Persistence of differences among Oregonians<\/a>\u201d by open access.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>Communicator events approaching<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Here are several nearing events you may find helpful, including contact information you can use for details. We welcome suggestions or revisions for this calendar.<\/p>\n<p>April 13-16, 2026<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCharting new territory in agricultural and extension education.\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/aiaee.org\/2026aiaeeconference\/\">Information for the Conference of the Association for International Agricultural and Extension Education (AIAEE) in San Jose, Costa Rica<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>April 15-17, 2026<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHungry for more.\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nama.org\/hungry-for-more.html\">Information for the 2026 Agri-Marketing Conference of the National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) in St. Louis, Missouri<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>April 15-18, 2026<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSEJ 2026.\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sej2026.org\/\">Information for the conference of the Society of Environmental Journalists (SEJ) in Chicago, Illinois<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>April 28-30, 2026<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTOCA rocks!\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.toca.org\/toca-annual-meeting\/\">Information for the annual meeting of the Turf and Ornamental Communicators Association (TOCA) in Cleveland, Ohio<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>May 14-16, 2026<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGoing the distance, going together.\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.americanhorsepubs.org\/ahp-annual-conference\/\">Information for the 2026 annual equine media conference of American Horse Publications (AHP) in Lexington, Kentucky<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>May 31-June 2, 2026<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.communicators.coop\/professional-development\/cca-institute\/\">Information for the CCA 2026 Institute of the Cooperative Communicators Association in Chattanooga, Tennessee<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>June 15-17, 2026<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTrailheads &amp; trailblazers.\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/aceweb.org\/ace-conference\/\">Information for the 2026 annual conference of the Association for Communication Excellence (ACE) in Billings, Montana<\/a>.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>A tip for young (and older) communicators<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>We close this issue of <em>ACDC News<\/em> with a thought about collecting family information. It\u2019s from <em>The Sunny Side of Genealogy<\/em>:<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen we were young, we did not ask questions. Now that we\u2019re old, there\u2019s no one to answer them.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>ACDC is a deep and open resource for you, so please feel free to invite our help as you search for information, local to global. You are welcomed to follow us on Twitter\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ACDCUIUC\">@ACDCUIUC<\/a>. And please suggest (or send) agricultural communications documents we might add to this unique and valued international collection. We welcome them in hard copy (sent to Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, 510 ACES Library, 1101 S. Goodwin Avenue, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801) \u2013 or in electronic format sent to\u00a0<a href=\"mailto:acdc@library.illinois.edu\">acdc@library.illinois.edu<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Download a printer-friendly PDF of this issue. Update on Americans\u2019 trust in food and nutrition science We are adding to the ACDC collection findings of an online 2025 national survey by the International Food Information Council (IFIC). This survey assessed Americans\u2019 trust in food and nutrition science. Among the results: Nearly two-thirds (64%) of 1,018 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":897,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17462","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-acdc_news"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.library.illinois.edu\/funkaces\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17462","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.library.illinois.edu\/funkaces\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.library.illinois.edu\/funkaces\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.library.illinois.edu\/funkaces\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/897"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.library.illinois.edu\/funkaces\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17462"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.library.illinois.edu\/funkaces\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17462\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17464,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.library.illinois.edu\/funkaces\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17462\/revisions\/17464"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.library.illinois.edu\/funkaces\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17462"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.library.illinois.edu\/funkaces\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17462"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.library.illinois.edu\/funkaces\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17462"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}