Becoming a Better Writer: Dr. Courtney Meyers

Once in a while, you get a co-worker and you just vibe. Dr. Courtney Meyers is one of those people for me. Early in our academic careers, our offices were next door to each other and the rest is history. We share grammar pet peeves, are non-native Texans, enjoy cinnamon rolls alongside our chili, love to visit National Parks together, and we frequently dress alike. Aside from her fabulous fashion sense, she's a wonderful agricultural communicator and excellent educator. 

Managing the communications efforts for a university is a huge job. Doing the job when the university is in crisis even bigger. Chris Cook was the director of communications for Texas Tech University during three major crises. Two of them you may have heard of, but I wanted to talk to him about the crisis you probably didn't hear about or may have forgotten. Sometimes crises are best handled with one-on-one communications. He shares his experiences in this episode. Chris is now an Assistant Professor of Practice and Assistant Dean of Enrollment Management & Marketing for the College of Media & Communication at Texas Tech. 

Delaney Howell is an ag journalist and podcaster. Her agricultural news podcast covers national news topics important to ag producers everywhere, and she is on the leadership team for the National Association of Farm Broadcasting. 

Bryan Mudd is the weeknight anchor at KAMC-TV (ABC) in Lubbock, Texas. He is a staple in Lubbock television, conducts great interviews, and is a good journalist and reporter. In this episode, we cover all sorts of topics, especially the importance of local journalism, inspiring young people to seek careers in news, and working on a master's degree with a full time job. 

Scarlett Hagins Madinger is the Vice President of Communications at Kansas Livestock Association. In this episode, she talks about several recent crises, including HPAI in cattle (bird flu), as well as being prepared for whatever could happen next. I've known Scarlett for a LONG time. She's an alum of our program and a good friend. We even did a workshop together at Ag Media Summit in 2024 in Kansas City. During the workshop, an artist did a live graphic for us - that's the photo. Link to book: https://he.kendallhunt.com/product/crisis-communications-guide-agriculture-food-and-natural-resources

Rural newspapers create a "community conversation" according to this episode's guest. I interviewed the editor/publisher of The Canadian Record, Laurie Ezzell Brown. The newspaper is located in Canadian, Texas, a beautiful community on the eastern edge of the Texas Panhandle. The paper has an excellent website and Facebook page that serves the community well. https://www.canadianrecord.com/https://www.facebook.com/canadiantexasAlso, a documentary was produced about the paper. Learn more here: https://www.fortherecorddocumentary.com/

It's a beautiful thing when science and communications are done well. Dr. Mindy Brashears does both very, very well. She communicates complicated information in a way that's simple to understand, and she's a very likeable person. She shares stories of her research in the United States and South America, plus she tells us about her experience as the Under Secretary for Food Safety. Link to book:https://he.kendallhunt.com/product/crisis-communications-guide-agriculture-food-and-natural-resources

Communicating about severe weather is something we all need to understand. However, the current system in the United States can be a little confusing. Dr. Chris Weiss, professor of atmospheric science at Texas Tech explains the system for us, then tells us about the research he's conducting.I would love to hear from you.Contact me at [email protected] my book here. 

Lots of crises can be prevented when they're in the issues phase through good communication, leadership, and management.Earlier this year, I attended a webinar hosted by today's guest, Frankie Gould, on issues management and communication. Plus, I've known Frankie for years through the Association for Communications Excellence, and have always enjoyed her wisdom and experience she shares. Frankie is the vice president for strategic communications and outreach for the Louisiana State University Ag Center. 

Communicating the climate crisis is a difficult and emotional task. Texas Tech University's Dr. Katharine Hayhoe is a scientist that communicates a tricky subject, yet she remains positive and continues with her work. She's active on LinkedIn and Twitter. Subscribe to her newsletter here: https://mailchi.mp/fae4224ba66d/subscribe-to-katharine-newsletter