Guild member and freelance journalist Caroline Stocks has co-launched an international communications agency specialising in content journalism, science reporting, and strategic storytelling for agricultural businesses.
Consus Communications is a joint venture between Caroline and her long-term colleague, Meghan Feeks, who was formerly managing partner of PR Works, a US-based agency primarily focused on the livestock sector.
Caroline and Meghan have worked together for almost a decade, producing articles, videos and podcasts for multinational companies including Zoetis, Cargill, and Merck.
Their new enterprise sees them sharpening their focus on strategic editorial work — content that combines excellent journalism with marketing strategies to bring farming stories to life.
“Meghan and I have worked together for over a decade and in that time we’ve seen a huge shift in how agribusinesses connect with their customers,” says Caroline.
“There’s so much content out there competing for attention, so cutting through the noise requires more than just writing another press release — it takes credible storytelling across a range of channels.
“That’s why we created Consus — we want to help agribusiness create credible, newsworthy and science-driven content that showcases their ideas and expertise, whether that’s through their own website or news platform, via an industry publication, or through a podcast.
The new business, with a website at www.consuscomms.com, offers clients a range of services including articles, videos, podcasts social posts, and a variety of other digital and print materials.
Consus also self-publishes two independent international agri-news sites with a focus on sustainable production: Fish Farm Forum, a specialist site for professionals in the global aquaculture industry, and Farming Future Food, a website that covers the technical and scientific developments shaping agtech.
With Caroline and Meghan based in Europe and their wider writing team based in the UK and US, Caroline says Consus is in an ideal position to help food companies and agribusinesses reach audiences around the world.
“Our team has decades of combined experience in agricultural journalism and communications, so we can confidently tackle technical subjects while keeping an eye on what’s going on in the wider world,” she adds.
“While we have a strong focus in livestock production, including poultry, swine, cattle and aquaculture, we’ve also worked in crop protection, agtech and sustainability, so we really can tackle anything.”
Caroline has a new email address: caroline@consuscomms.com, while Meghan can be reached at meghan@consuscomms.com.
They also have another UK Guild member on their team, agri-science writer Gary Hartley, who is co-editor of agritech website Farming Future Food and freelances for titles including New Scientist and the Guardian. His email address is gary@consuscomms.com.
Quick Q&A with Caroline:
Why the name Consus? We named it after Consus, a Roman god who protected grains — hence the nod to his symbol in the company logo. He was also associated with meetings and people sitting together to discuss ideas, which we thought was especially apt.
How do you juggle working with international clients across different time zones? The world clock app on my iPhone is a lifesaver, though I have become adept at remembering US timezones when I need to schedule meetings. There’s usually a decent overlap between our working days so I rarely have to stay up late for meetings.
Do you only work with international business? Not at all. While we help a lot of companies reach multiple markets, we also work with UK-based organisations — particularly agritech start-ups and aquaculture businesses. It’s great to have a mix of clients and subjects to write about.
Where’s the best place your work has taken you? I’ve been really lucky to have travelled to some incredible places through the Guild and the IFAJ: last year’s tour of Thailand was one of my favourites, and I’m hoping to attend the IFAJ Congress in Kenya later this year.
How do you relax when you’re not working? My husband and I have bought a house in Valencia, Spain, which we are painstakingly — and usually disastrously — renovating. I wouldn’t call it relaxing, but endless painting and sanding is strangely calming.
– All members and Friends of the Guild can be searched for and contacted through the Guild’s Farming Media Centre
