Media Coverage of Integrated Pest Management in Major Urban Newspapers

Abstract

Support from a largely urban population is needed to increase funding for development of integrated pest management (IPM) programs and encourage)mplementation in production systems for agricultural commodities. This support must be generated through increased communication between scientists and the public. Extension specialists, being responsible for communicating research results from land grant universities, must work to improve interactions with the news media to ensure increased public awareness and appreciation of the merits of IPM. This study was conducted to assess how much information on IPM is being communicated to the public by newspapers. Types of news items, such as news stories, feature columns, and editorials published in major urban newspapers, were enumerated for the years 1982 to 1995 using the DataTimes Online (service now accessed through < www.bellhowelt.infolearning.com >) archive. The relationship of these items to IPM in urban and agricultural settings was determined to assess the types of information being communicated to the urban population. Overall, the numbers of articles published annually in each newspaper were relatively low. Much of the content dealt with urban settings and did not serve to improve understanding of the role of IPM in agriculture. Recommendations are offered for improving communications of research scientists and extension specialists with those who write the news to increase public awareness and acceptance of IPM.