Food Policy: Digital Cultivation

Description

Food policies are linked to a wide spectrum of government agencies and non-profits, from health care and education to taxes, subsidies and the environment. Furthermore, our relationship to food is a constant topic in the media, from cooking shows and recipe articles to food issue blogging and government educational websites. As the media landscape evolves ever more rapidly, so does the conversation between industry spin doctors, nonprofit activists, citizens and government officials. This class will explore best practices in multimedia advocacy and will look at the ways government agencies engage digitally with activists, consumers and producers.  We will explore at least one each regional and national case study, and take a look forward to the 2012 Farm Bill. Students will work individually or in small groups to create a digital campaign around a specific piece of food policy.

*It is essential that students finish the asterisked readings prior to performing the first assignment (case study) and be prepared to discuss them in class.

 Books:

 Hands, Joss. (2011). @ Is for Activism: Dissent, Resistance and Rebellion in a Digital Culture. Pluto Press. ISBN-10: 0745327001

 *Nestle, Marion. (2002, revised 2007). Food Politics: How the Food Industry Influences Nutrition and Health. University of California Press ISBN-10: 0520254031

Robin, Marie-Monique. (2010). The World According to Monsanto. New Press IBSN-10:0520254031 (selected chapters - TBA)

  Articles and Papers:

Rainie, L. & Smith, A. (2010). 8% of online Americans use Twitter. Pew Research Center. http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2010/Twitter-Update-2010.aspx

 *Gladwell, M. (2010). Small Change: Why the revolution will not be tweeted. The New Yorker. http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2010/10/04/101004fa_fact_gladwell

 *Stone, B. (2010). Exclusive: Biz Stone on Twitter and Activism. The Atlantic.

http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2010/10/exclusive-biz-stone-on-twitter-and-activism/64772/

 Wikipedia contributors. (2010). The Resignation of Shirley Sherrod. Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resignation_of_Shirley_Sherrod

 *Science, and Technology International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge. (2008). Agriculture at a Crossroads: Synthesis Report (*executive summary). http://www.agassessment.org/index.cfm?Page=About_IAASTD&ItemID=2

 Media Policy 101 - FreePress.net http://www.freepress.net/resources/activist_tools