Metro News Journalists Critique Food Biotechnology
Tom A. Vestal
Gary E. Briers
The results of this study may encourage researchers, educators, and industry
professionals to change behavior and to collaborate with journalists and the
social institution of mass media to inform consumers about food biotechnology.
Eighty-eight journalists for 65 of the nation's largest newspapers provided
data for the study. Major findings were as follows: journalists' knowledge of
food biotechnology was relatively low; most journalists considered genetic
modification of plants as "acceptable," and journalists had greatest faith in
"university scientists" as sources. Too, "Writers" rather than "Editors" had
greater acceptance of genetically modified organisms, greater faith in sources,
and less fear of using biotechnology to produce food.
Tom A. Vestal is Extension Specialist and State Coordinator for the AgriFood
Education Program sponsored by the Texas A&M solicited funding from agribusiness
supporters. A research paper covering this study was presented orally to the
Divisions of Agricultural Communications and Agricultural Education during the
Southern Association of Agricultural Scientists research meetings in Memphis,
Tennessee, on February 1, 1999. The authors are not present members of ACE.
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