Farmers need press freedom too
Democracy cannot operate without a free press… and neither can farmers, at least not in a way that will help them be sustainable.
Press freedom, like that we treasure at The Creemore Echo to bring you uncensored news, is never totally secure.
Although Canada is a global leader in press freedom, standing 14th in the world according to the global press watchdog Reporters Without Borders, threats abound.
For example, on the campaign trail, insecure Canadian politicians are following the example of their trash- talking U.S. counterparts and calling the media the enemy.
And what do you do to enemies? You silence them. You take them out. One way or another, you get rid of them.
The same goes for threats from corporate moguls who fear criticism and exposure in the media. Remember the bread price-fixing scam and the huge corporate profits raked in during the pandemic by Galen Weston? Do you think he wants to see his name connected to these stories?
Like the shrinking ownership base of grocery stores, you sense press freedom weakening whenever media ownership shrinks, too. There aren’t enough independent news outlets like The Echo left anymore. Many belong to chains whose corporate philosophy rings throughout their pages. And that philosophy is not necessarily in sync with local people.
Farm media, who deliver agricultural news through various platforms, have mostly avoided negative scenarios. Their strong information, extension and service functions have kept them at arm’s length from political and corporate interference.
However, they are experiencing the same concentrated ownership dilemma as other media.
And many farm media have felt at least a measure of pressure from advertisers who fill their pages with ads about machinery and inputs like chemicals. Like the Weston family, these advertisers don’t want to see negative news, or maybe even research stories, about how there might be other ways to farm. But farmers do.
Heading into uncertain economic times, pressure on farm media could easily intensify. Sometimes, covering farming means exposing prickly topics, presenting perspectives other than the party line and challenging authority.
That’s the way it has to be in a democracy. Farmers, like the rest of us, make decisions based on the best available information.
However, information that is politically influenced or censored by owners, governments or advertisers could result in bad decisions. And right now, no one wants their country’s food producers operating at anything less than full speed ahead, particularly with new trade routes and partners are being established. The response to opportunities like this must be addressed with the best information possible.
Even organizations like the Canadian Federation of Agriculture, a national advocacy group funded by farmers, could be at loggerheads with government hopefuls from parties that promote media censorship. It’s not good for farmers and it’s not good for the country.
Media freedom promotes transparency, and transparency is key for trust. People trust farmers, and farmers need unfettered information from a free press to make good decisions and to help measure success.
Owen Roberts is an agricultural journalist from Guelph and a communications instructor at the University of Illinois. He regularly visits family in Creemore.
