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Preparing students for career success is a common goal across higher education. Yet, despite this longstanding goal, many recent graduates, including graduates from agricultural communications and journalism degree programs, are ill-prepared for career success. Thus, we surveyed agricultural communications and journalism employers (n = 45) to identify what skills and characteristics presented on students' résumés are most influential when employers make hiring decisions for entry-level agricultural communications positions. We found that students pursuing a career in agricultural communications and journalism should prioritize experiences (e.g., courses, paid positions, extracurricular experiences, professional development activities) that directly impact their ability to develop strong communication skills (specifically developing skills in critical listening and creating accurate and concise content), make decisions based on evidence, and solve complex problems facing the communication profession. Additionally, to increase potential earnings, students should ensure that their communication and decision making/problem solving skills are above average and that they emphasize learning how to communicate accurately and concisely. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural communications scholars do not use a national research agenda to guide their research, which could be limiting the impact and rigor of the discipline. In this commentary, we argue that agricultural communications scholars should adopt the science communication research agenda published by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine in 2017 because the goals of science communication, outlined in the agenda, are relevant to agriculture. Members of the committee who developed the agenda study science communication in contexts of food, agriculture, life sciences, the environment, political science, health, nutrition, and psychology, among others. They developed the agenda with the intent for it to inform and guide research in all science communication sub-disciplines or areas involving contentious public issues. We provide examples of studies that have used the agenda to inform research in agricultural and natural resources communications. We also explain how research priorities outlined in the science communication research agenda align with agricultural communications scholarship. Recognizing there are challenges unique to agriculture, we recommend agricultural communications scholars use the science communication research agenda as a research guide and adapt the relevant research recommendations for agricultural communications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]