Virtual Expert: John Vogel

John Vogel of American Agriculturalist magazine placed first in the Editorial Opinion category in the 2005 AAEA Writing Awards Program.

The planning stage: Please give some background on why you chose the story topic that won your award. What gave you the idea for that topic? What were your goals when you began to plan the story?

The October 2004 editorial regarding the coming national animal ID program arose from numerous interviews with biosecurity experts. And, I'm afraid, the cited food security concerns and loopholes still remain - due to the ever-tightening federal budget squeeze.

The fact gathering stage: How did you choose the people to interview for your story? What were your primary sources of information? Did you use the Web? How and where did you conduct interviews? Did you do the interviews face-to-face, phone, or email, and which is best? How did you get information and good quotes from your sources? How did you determine whom to interview, and when did you know that you had done enough interviewing/researching?

Fact gathering actually began via a friendship with a noted animal biosecurity expert instrumental in containing several avian flu outbreaks in Pennsylvania's poultry industry. A constant feed of e-mails from state and national farm organizations, Web research on federal spending and the politics of COOL helped immensely.

The writing stage: Why or how did you choose the story lead? Did you outline the story or organize the general flow ahead of time, before you began to write? What writing style did you choose, and why? How many re-writes did you do? How did you choose sidebar stories? Did you have an editor or colleague review your story, offer suggestions, look for holes in your reporting? How do you check facts?

The ultimate challenge was bringing it down to a scintillating 450-word editorial. Points were initially outlined, then converted to conversational - but still a tad "dry" - thought. Then a day before deadline, another thought came: What's the most outrageous analogy for leading off the editorial? A chicken wearing an eartag.

How did you begin your career? What advice do you have for those just graduating in ag comm? What does it mean to be a member of AAEA? How do you maintain a high standard of ethics in your writing and your career?

My career has always been writing for ag publications, even while at Iowa State University. Internships and work experience before graduating are invaluable. Having a strong desire to learn and improve your skills puts you in contact with exemplary professionals who can be door-openers for you throughout your career.

AAEA has been my wellspring of professional improvement and personal encouragers. When you become close to like-minded professionals with high ethical standards, it's far easier to maintain them.

Any other advice for young people considering a career in ag communications?

Never lose your hunger for becoming a better writer. In agriculture, we work for the best people in the world - the American farmer.