Monday, June 17, 2013

Dick James inducted as a Rural Media Icon (Oct 2010)

Former Stock Journal editor Dick James has been inducted as the 2010 Rural Media Icon.

Dick started with the Stock Journal in January 1954. At that time the publication was known as the Adelaide Stock & Station Journal. Dick was appointed editor of the Stock Journal in 1976 and was managing editor from 1985-1987. In 1998 he decided to take a short break, but was invited back by the Stock Journal proprietors to take over as livestock editor. Dick relinquished that role in late 2001 to provide an upgrade for a younger man.

Dick James inducted as a Rural Media Icon
Rural Media 2010 Icon Dick James (centre) receives his award from Ian Doyle and Dale Manson.

Former Stock Journal editor Dick James has been inducted as the 2010 Rural Media Icon.

Dick started with the Stock Journal in January 1954. At that time the publication was known as the Adelaide Stock & Station Journal. Dick was appointed editor of the Stock Journal in 1976 and was managing editor from 1985-1987. In 1998 he decided to take a short break, but was invited back by the Stock Journal proprietors to take over as livestock editor. Dick relinquished that role in late 2001 to provide an upgrade for a younger man.

Dick remained a working journalist until his retirement in July 2003, but is still employed by the Stock Journal as a casual journalist.

Dick James has won several journalism awards, having entered livestock feature articles in both the National Australia Bank and Telstra awards.

Because of Dick's obvious specialisation in livestock reporting as a rural journalist, he has been asked to judge both stud and commercial stock over the years, as well as open several of the major stud sales in SA. Recently he was invited to select the Blue Ribbon pen at the mammoth Lameroo off-shears sale.

Dick also served as Executive officer of Merinos SA for quite a number of years.

As part of his induction as a Rural Media Icon, Dick was presented with a framed parchment and an engraved hand-made RM Williams Condamine Bell. The bell was coupled to a brass buckled leather strap hand-made by a true South Australian craftsman saddler with a lifetime in the industry.

Both the Condamine Bell and the hand-made leather strap were appropriate iconic images of rural Australia, for a true Rural Media Icon.