A British journalist is visiting New Zealand to help improve the way agriculture is reported in the media.
Nuffield scholar and journalist Anna Jones, who was a keynote speaker at the NZ Guild of Agricultural Journalists, says the challenge is that media is inherently urban.
"The media, by its very nature, can sometimes be very much of that urban world. There are not many broadcasters or newspapers that are based in rural areas," she said.
Because of this, rural issues are often looked at through "an urban lens" which can lead to a lack of understanding of complex issues facing the primary industries.
But compared to the UK, Ms Jones thinks New Zealand still has a cultural connection to agriculture.
"New Zealand is still very much dependent on agriculture for its economy. So there's still an interest there," Ms Jones said, adding that the connection is still not as strong as it is in developing countries.
Ms Jones hopes to see mainstream media outlets use rural journalists as a resource for better reporting.
Reporters with a rural background can help better cover issues in a balanced and impartial way, she said.
On Friday, Ms Jones spoke about bridging rural and urban matters at the 60th anniversary of the NZ Guild of Agricultural Journalists and Communicators.
Listen to the full interview with Anna Jones above.
Rural Exchange with Hamish McKay, Sarah Perriam and Richard Loe, 5-7am Saturday and Sunday on RadioLIVE with Carter's Tyre Service. Click here for all the ways to watch and listen.
Newshub.
