The Rural Voice, 1981-11, Page 11ht 3Conbea 3keY
Gord Wainman
likes the variety
in farm reporting
As reporters come, as
reporters go Gord Wainman has got it
made.
Not only does the paper he works for,
the London Free Press, consider
agriculture an important part of its
mandate in covering the news, which
makes Wainman's beat a frontrunner
among beats at the paper, but this subject
seems to gain daily in its impact on
Canada and the world. And as inflation,
high interest rates, marketing board
disputes and other agricultural issues of
the day make their presence felt on the
pocketbooks of Canadians. Wainman's
work commands a larger portion of its
familiar slot on the business page. and
even makes the occasional foray onto the
front pages.
"At the Free Press. there's a tradition
with the importance of agriculture," the
writer offers in his calm, quiet manner. "1
think the Free Press is one of the few
papers that has pretty well always had
full-time agricultural people. And I think
now some of the decision makers on other
papers are saying 'this is a legitimate
beat'."
Wainman's assessment of his paper's
commitment cannot be dismissed as
overblown loyalty. Prior to his arrival on
the fields, farm yards and OMAF offices
across southwestern Ontario, reporter Bill
Stewart patrolled agriculture for the
London daily for more than a decade.
Wainman is going into his seventh year on
the beat.
Two farm writers in seventeen years is
rare since most dailies, Free Press
included, are inclined to rearrange beats
every couple of years simply to keep
writers fresh.
Though more secure in his subject than
rens
Gord Wainman
other reporters, Wainman acknowledges
that he, too, may some day be shifted to
another beat.
"You never know," Wainman admits,"
"but 1 think Jim O'Neall (Free Press
managing editor) looks at a beat and if he
sees someone producing a lot of copy. and
who isn't in a rut, then they stay."
The writer contends he is a reporter
first, and an agricultural reporter second
(if there is a shortage of available writers,
he is often called upon to cover non-
agricultural events), but from the
enthusiasm. with which he speaks about
this work, it is clear he would not relish a
move.
"What interests me most about agri-
culture is that there is a whole spectrum of
beats involved," he explains. "For
example, it's political, with a capital 'P',
with the federal and provincial govern-
ments. Then, it's political, with a small
'p', with commodity groups, consumer
groups and farm organizations. It is
scientific, and it's business - commodity
THE
news- and it's human interest."
There's another benefit - the people.
"Farmers tend to be quite open in
expressing themselves, and they differ
from other businessmen because they are
more open, more colorful. They tend to be
straight up people. They'll give me hell if
they don't like what I've done."
And then there's the uniqueness of the
agricultural beat. Often, editors may not
be well -versed in the agricultural issues of
the day and consequently farm writers are
often given a free hand. Wainman's
situation at the Free Press is much like
that.
"I put all stories on my own schedule a
week ahead," he explains. "Part of the
reason for that is there are some editors
who don't like that responsibility because
they don't have the knowledge of what is
important. However, in any reporting job
I've had, I've tried to make up my own
schedule."
Aside from the responsibility of his
Please turn to page 19
RURAL VOICE/ NOVEMBER 1981 Pu. 9