By Kelsey Litchfield, Host of the Ag Comm Network Podcast and Holly Spangler, Byline Editor
Here we are, already at episode nine of the Ag Comm Network podcast! And we have some great content in store for you.
In today’s episode, I am joined by Holly Martin, publisher at High Plains/Midwest Ag Journal. We talk about her career path which involves a transition from editor to publisher. Holly shares her perspective, what she’s learned, and what she wishes the editorial and advertising teams knew about each other.
- Reach. Look for projects that can broaden your editorial reach without stretching your staff. Holly’s example: their Harvest For All campaign, that invited farmers to share their stories throughout wheat harvest – an effort that proved phenomenally successful and drew readers from all over the world.
- Learn more. Learn more than what your job requires. Holly learned that one when she stepped into the publisher position and suddenly had to work out budgets and projections and advertising and more.
- Branch out. Step out of your comfort zone. Holly loves what she learns in AAEA but she also joined other organizations like NAMA, where she could learn from the marketing/advertising side and share her editorial perspective.
- Work together. What does she wishes she knew when she was an editor? Her mantra’s long been that if you keep farmers and ranchers in mind all the time, everything else will take care of itself: this is true but editors can’t wear blinders. Write the stories that need written but know there could be repercussions. And maybe let the rest of your team know the story’s coming, so they’re prepared.
- Be prepared. Careers can change, like Holly’s did – even without leaving the company. “People should always be thinking about if there is another potential move in their career and what things they can do to prepare for it,” she says.
Next month, we will share our tenth episode! Be on the lookout for a survey before the new year as I want to hear from you on what topics you want to hear on the podcast in 2019.