Alan Bjerga

Alan Bjerga (born 1973) is an American journalist, author of the book Endless Appetites: How the Commodities Casino Creates Hunger and Unrest[1] and the 2010 president of the National Press Club. He covers agricultural policy for Bloomberg News and in 2010-2011 was also the president of the North American Agricultural Journalists.[2] In 2012 he joined the faculty of Georgetown University as an adjunct instructor.[3] He has been recognized for his work covering U.S. and international agricultural issues, receiving awards from the Society of American Business Editors and Writers, the New York Press Club, the Kansas Press Association, the North American Agricultural Journalists, and the Overseas Press Club. He is also a frequent commentator on food and agricultural issues, appearing on Bloomberg Television, National Public Radio, the BBC and PBS Newshour, among other programs. Before working for Bloomberg News, Bjerga won the NAAJ's top writing award while working for the Knight-Ridder Washington Bureau.[4]

Bjerga, who grew up on a farm near the town of Motley, Minnesota,[5] went to Concordia College (Minnesota) where he earned a bachelor's degree in History and English Literature and edited the student newspaper, The Concordian. He earned a masters degree in Mass Communication from the University of Minnesota, where he was the managing editor of The Minnesota Daily. In 2012 he was an inaugural winner of the university's award for outstanding journalism alumni under 40,[6] and in 2013 received Concordia College's annual "Sent Forth" award given to an outstanding young alumnus.[7]

Bjerga began his career with the St. Paul Pioneer Press (Minn.) and also reported for the Sioux Falls (S.D.) Argus Leader and The Wichita Eagle (Kan.).[8]

Alan Bjerga was a contestant on the game show, "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?" where he won $50,000. He was a second-place finisher on Jeopardy!'[9] At his National Press Club inaugural on January 30, 2010, he played guitar and sang lead vocals with "Honky Tonk Confidential", a retro/alt country band with songs written by CBS Face the Nation anchor, Bob Schieffer.[10] He has also competed for the standup comedy title of "DC's Funniest Journalist."[11]

Notes

  1. ↑ http://www.amazon.com/Endless-Appetites-Commodities-Creates-Bloomberg/dp/1118043235
  2. ↑ http://www.naaj.net/contactus.html
  3. ↑ http://scs.georgetown.edu/departments/11/master-of-professional-studies-in-journalism/faculty-bio.cfm?a=a&fId=168331
  4. ↑ http://www.internationalreportingproject.org/fellows-editors/profile/36/
  5. ↑ http://www.staplesworld.com/news/2010-01-07/Front_Page/What_ever_happened_to.html
  6. ↑ http://blog.lib.umn.edu/sjmcblog/sjmcnews/2012/04/four-alums-honored-with-sjmc-a.html
  7. ↑ http://www.cord.edu/News/Stories/alanbjerga.php
  8. ↑ http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/national-press-club-announces-keynote-speakers-for-presidential-inauguration-gala-jan-30-81178502.html
  9. ↑ http://thehill.com/capital-living/20-questions/76919-20-questions-alan-bjerga
  10. ↑ http://www.cord.edu/magazine/summer10/index_page.php?page_story=feature1
  11. ↑ http://dcist.com/2012/02/commedia_dell_media.php