Multimedia Resources:

Edwards, J. (2007) Fighting for One America – Strengthening Rural America. YouTube. Retrieved June 4, 2008 from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJ309ZnpN6w.

- In this video, John Edwards, former presidential primary candidate, discusses the importance of strengthening rural America, its economy, its technology and its education. This footage was captured during Edwards’ Fighting for One America Bus Tour in Iowa. Although Edwards is not the democratic candidate for the upcoming election, his plans for rural America are still informative and well-researched, making this video an excellent source for any journalist interested in seeing how politics and rural poverty overlap in the U.S.

National Poverty Institute at the University of Michigan. (2006) Who helps the poor? Retrieved June 4, 2008 from http://www.ns.umich.edu/podcast/audio.php?id=23.

- In this podcast, University of Michigan public policy professor and co-director of the National Poverty Institute, Sheldon Danziger, discusses the latest poverty trends and problems with welfare reform. He says that even though fewer people are on welfare for long periods of time, these people still find themselves poor even after they’ve found work. This podcast is extremely informative and offers in-depth analysis on welfare reform and the working poor across the board. Danzinger also gives examples of poverty in rural areas. This podcast would be beneficial for any journalist researching welfare reform and poverty in general.

Trona. (2006) Into 2006 – Abandoned in Rural America [drive-by]. Flickr. Retrieved June 4, 2008 from http://www.flickr.com/photos/trona/83463739/.

- This photo shows a dilapidated front porch in rural America. The photographer also has other photos tagged “rural” which are vivid depictions of parts of the rural U.S. Although this photo does not deal with rural poverty specifically, it shows the living conditions many rural Americans face as a result of poverty.

International Sites:

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). (2008) Rural Poverty Portal. Retrieved June 4, 2008 from http://www.ruralpovertyportal.org/english/regions/americas/index.htm.

- IFAD has gathered information from its partners and staff on the ground on the impact of rising food prices on poor rural people. On this site in particular, IFAD has collected statistics about rural poverty in the Americas. This webpage puts into perspective rural poverty in North, South and Central America and allows journalists to compare the poverty in these three different regions. The description of rural poverty in North America is astonishing, for this international site says that even though the U.S. and Canada are two countries associated with wealth and prosperity, poverty is still prevalent in their rural areas. This website would be beneficial to any journalist seeking to compare U.S. poverty with poverty in other countries or any journalist researching the reasons rural areas are susceptible to poverty across the globe.

The Poverty Site. (2008) Poverty Indicators. Retrieved June 4, 2008 from http://www.poverty.org.uk/.

- According to this website, “This site monitors what is happening to poverty and social exclusion in the UK and complements our annual monitoring reports. The material is organised around 50 statistical indicators covering all aspects of the subject, from income and work to health and education.” This site also covers rural poverty in industrialized areas in the United Kingdom, such as England. This website could give journalists a cross-cultural perspective as to how poverty is measured in other industrialized nations and how rural areas are more susceptible to poverty globally.

Online Blogs:

Crabtree, J. (2005). Blog for Rural America. Blogspot. Retrieved June 4, 2008 from http://cfra.blogspot.com/2005/08/latest-rural-poverty-data.html.

- According to the blog which was created by a member of the Center for Rural Affairs, “The Center for Rural Affairs, a private, non-profit organization, is working to strengthen small businesses, family farms and ranches, and rural communities.” This blog provides extensive articles and data regarding rural poverty and development; also, according to the site, “Permission to reprint items from this web log is hereby granted, on the condition that clear credit is given to the original source of the material.” If a journalist chooses to reprint information from this blog, they should contact the blog’s author. Not only does this blog provide commentary and statistics surrounding rural poverty and rural America, but it also provides related links which could assist journalists in broadening their research. Overall, this blog would be beneficial to any journalist researching rural poverty and rural development.

Cross, A. (2007). The Rural Blog. Blogspot. Retrieved June 4, 2008 from http://irjci.blogspot.com/2007/09/rural-poverty-is-partly-function-of-low.html.

- This blog is “A digest of events, trends, issues, ideas and journalism in rural America, from the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues.” According to the blog, “his blog generally follows traditional journalistic standards. It's not about opinions, though you may read one here occasionally. It's about facts that we think will be useful to rural journalists, non-rural journalists who do rural stories, and others who are interested in rural issues,” making it an excellent source for unbiased statistics rather than unreliable diary-like reporting. This blog contains many entries regarding rural poverty and rural poverty statistics as well as well-researched entries about rural culture and federal policies in rural areas. The blog offers an extensive list of external links to assist journalists in reporting about rural areas and the rural poverty that is found there. This blog is a reliable source of information for any journalist interested in rural America, including rural poverty.

Government Documents:

U.S. Census Bureau. (2006) Current Population Reports: Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance (Publication No. P60-233). Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. Retrieved June 4, 2008 from http://www.census.gov/prod/2007pubs/p60-233.pdf.

- This government document, although 78 pages, is easy for any journalist to navigate. This document contains extensive research and statistics regarding United States income, poverty and health insurance coverage without giving any bias or analysis. This document provides journalist with a huge resource of statistical information regarding poverty as a whole and insurance coverage; however, it does not specify where this poverty is occurring, making it a good source for poverty research in general, but a poor source for rural poverty research. The document has a comprehensive table of contents that assists journalists in easily finding the information they need without searching through the entire paper. Also, all information is reliable because the U.S. Census Bureau has certified it.

United States Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service. (2007) Rural Definitions: National and State Indicator Tables. Retrieved June 4, 2008 from http://www.ers.usda.gov/Data/RuralDefinitions/.

- According to the USDA Economic Research Service website, “This tool provides selected socioeconomic indicators (such as population, education, poverty, etc.) for each definition of rural, for each State and the U.S., in one Excel file. Each individual spreadsheet allows the user to easily compare a particular indicator across the different definitions of rural. By selecting different States from the pull down menu, the user can make quick comparisons of indicators across States.” This Excel document would allow a journalist to determine how many people are considered rural in the U.S. under different definitions, compare the average household income of the rural populations under different rural definitions and see how changing the population threshold from 2,500 to 10,000 affects the number of people considered rural in the selected State. This document of definitions is easy to use for any journalist familiar with Excel and contains very informative, useful information for any individual researching rural areas.

Specialized Online Reference Sites:

United States Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service. (2007) Farm Household Economics and Well-Being: Glossary. Retrieved June 4, 2008 from http://www.ers.usda.gov/Briefing/WellBeing/glossary.htm.

- According to the USDA Economic Research Service website, “This glossary is intended to provide the user with a working definition of the key terms and a better understanding of how these concepts are applied in estimating farm household income and wealth.” This glossary includes useful economics terms such as: farm, farm operator and principal farm operator, family farm, farm operator household, farm operator household income, farm operator household wealth, farm typology, commodity specialization and disposable personal income of farm and nonfarm residents. This website explains how this terms are measured and determined, how these terms are broken into components and how they are applied when estimating household income and wealth in rural areas. This glossary is short, yet very useful for any journalist who wants background knowledge of economic terminology often used when discussing rural poverty.

United States Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service. (2008) Food Assistance and Nutrition Programs: FANRP Research Findings. Retrieved June 4, 2008 from http://www.ers.usda.gov/Briefing/FoodNutritionAssistance/ResearchFindings/.

- This database is searchable by: title, lead author, topic, year of publication, and data set analyzed and exact words or phrases contained in the publication’s bibliographic citation. For all ERS-published reports and articles in this database a link to the full report is provided, making it ideal for journalists looking for research on food and food nutrition. One of the largest problems associated with rural poverty is a lack of food and nutrition, due to a limited amount of shelters, free stores and medical assistance. It is important for journalists to research food and nutrition assistance, and this database is an excellent resource for any journalist hoping to learn more about the rural food crisis.

Statistical Sources:

National Poverty Center. (2004) Poverty in the United States Frequently Asked Questions. Retrieved June 4, 2008 from http://www.npc.umich.edu/poverty/.

- The National Poverty Center as a whole offers extensive statistics about poverty in the United States; however, its section on Frequently Asked Questions contains graphs, charts and other comprehensible statistics from the U.S. Census and other reliable sources. This site discusses poverty as a whole, encompassing rural poverty, and illustrates 2004 poverty thresholds, the poverty status of various groups, children under age 18 living in poverty and sample alternative poverty measures all graphically and statistically. This website is reliable, comprehensible and informative for any journalist researching poverty as a whole or beginning their research on United States poverty.

United States Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service. (2004) Rural Development Research Report Number 100. Retrieved June 4, 2008 from http://usa.usembassy.de/etexts/soc/ruralpoverty.pdf.

- This statistically based article published by the United States Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service offers significant research regarding the increase in rural poverty after the 1990s economic boom ceased, the difference between poverty levels in metro and non-metro areas, the various dimensions of poverty (such as ethnicity and gender) and the regional characteristics of persistent poverty. Although this data is four years old, it is very informative and similar to the statistics and poverty trends of today. This PDF document can also be viewed as an HTML, and would be extraordinarily useful and easily citable for any journalist or researcher looking for statistical evidence regarding U.S. rural poverty.

Trade Magazines and Scholarly Articles:

Flynt, W. (Summer 1996). Rural Poverty in America. National Forum, 76. Retrieved June 4, 2008 from http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3651/is_199607/ai_n8740870.- Wayne Flynt, distinguished Auburn University professor and two-time Pulitzer Prize nominee, focuses on rural poverty in the United States throughout this article. Flynt highlights factors attributed to the decision of poor people to stay behind and live in rural areas, housing costs in rural areas, educational deficiencies in rural areas and health as the final feature of the rural Flynt discusses who is impoverished where and why in a relatively short, yet reliable scholarly article. This article would be extremely beneficial to journalists seeking analysis about rural poverty and why it occurs. landscape.

Hruby, L. (Aug. 23, 2001). Seven Foundations Band Together to Fight Poverty in Rural America. Chronicle of Philanthropy, 13. Retrieved June 4, 2008 from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=5101774&site=ehost-live.

- This brief article outlines the plans and goals of one organization called the National Rural Funders Collaborative. According to the article, “Seven U.S. foundations have joined forces to combat rural poverty through a new organization called the National Rural Funders Collaborative. The funds plan to increase the investment capital available to residents of ruralthe creation of so-called living-wage jobs, and improve social services for families in rural areas. The National Rural Funders Collaborative, in Dallas, received initial commitments totaling $2.5-million…” This article is a short, easy read for any journalist interested in researching the National Rural Funders Collaborative or any other organization attempting to assist poverty stricken rural areas. The article is also beneficial to journalists interested in interviewing someone from the organization, because it offers the organization’s contact information and leaders at the end of the article; however, journalists should be aware that this contact information may be outdated considering the article’s initial publication was in 2001. areas, support.

Osgood, M. (Jan. 1977). Rural and urban attitudes toward welfare. Social Work, 22. Retrieved June 4, 2008 from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=5268912&site=ehost-live.

- Author Mary Osgood who was an instructor in Rural Sociology at Pennsylvania State University at the time of this article’s publication, explores the trends and reasons why despite the high incidence of rural poverty in the U.S., more individuals in urban areas receive welfare benefits than those in rural areas. After analyzing data from a Pennsylvania survey, the author suggests that more negative attitudes toward welfare found among rural populations may account for this welfare gap. Although this article is quite dated, the issue of welfare disparity between rural and urban areas remains prevalent today, and this well-researched scholarly article applies to the same issues with rural poverty and welfare that are still widespread. This article would be beneficial for any journalists researching the difference in rural poverty trends from decades ago with the trends taking place now, as well as a journalist interested in the cultural difference between impoverished individuals in rural and urban areas and their attitudes toward welfare.

Newspaper and Magazine Articles:

Eckholm, E. (2006). Rural Oregon town feels pinch of poverty. The New York Times. Retrieved June 3, 2008 from http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/20/us/20poverty.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1.

- This article describes the increasing plight of one rural town that once experienced “blue-collar prosperity” until the mills that had once employed much of the town closed as a result of shifting markets and a dwindling supply of logs because of depletion and tighter environmental rules. The reporter places the vivid description of this town and its economic deindustrialization in the context of U.S. rural poverty and the national trends that are taking place in much of rural America, specifically the widening pay gap between individuals in rural areas and individuals in urban areas. This article, although published two years ago, gives a reliable, accurate portrayal of the growth of rural poverty and its effects on communities and small towns that used to thrive on industries that have since left or shut down. This article serves as excellent reading material for any journalist looking for a vivid image and feature story of the economic effects of poverty on rural communities.

Kelley, M. (2008, May 24). America’ other housing crisis. The Washington Post, pp. A21.

- This article, written by Michael Kelly, president of the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities and executive director of the District of Columbia Housing Authority, highlights the problems associated with the defunding and devaluing of public housing by the U.S. government, the importance of public housing and how a decrease in the availability of public housing negatively affects America’s poor, including its rural poor. Although the article’s focus is predominantly on urban areas, it briefly discusses rural poverty and the rural housing crisis as well. Also, most of the points made about the public housing crisis can be applied to rural areas as well. Although this article is not written by a professional journalist and serves as an opinion article rather than an objective news article, it remains well-researched and the points are well-argued. This article serves as valuable reading for any journalist researching the importance of public housing for America’s poor, including poor individuals in rural areas.

Mitchell, R. (2007). Rural U.S.: Doomed to Dial-Up? Computerworld. Retrieved June 3, 2008 from http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,136441-pg,1/article.html.

- This article, although published by a computer-based magazine, examines the problems with the lack of technological infrastructure in rural America, predominantly, broadband internet. The reporter uses reliable statistics to support his claim that rural America is without broadband because telecommunications carriers refuse to pay the price to bring technology to these remote areas. The article also examines the differences between the number of Americans without internet access versus the lack of internet access in other industrialized nations, and how the high numbers of Americans without high-speed internet are due to the lack of internet access in the rural U.S. This article is short, easily read, well researched and beneficial to any journalist or individual interested in the problems surrounding a lack of infrastructure in rural areas.

For-Profit Businesses:

BizBuySell. (2008) Agricultural Business Listings. Retrieved June 3, 2008 from http://www.bizbuysell.com.

- This website, which serves as an internet marketplace for businesses for sale, offers a way to easily search for agricultural listings, most of which are in rural areas. These listings give specifics about if the business has gained or lost money in the last several years, what the purpose of the business is and the business’s competition. Although these listings are not directly related to rural poverty, they give the perspective of rural America from the eyes of entrepreneurs and offer contacts for journalists interested in researching the economic side of rural America.

LandWatch. (2008) Land and Rural Retreat Listings. Retrieved June 3, 2008 from http://www.landwatch.com/Farms_Ranches.

- According to its website, “LandWatch helps you find investment or recreation property, land for sale, hunting land and leases, land acreages, farms and ranches for sale, waterfront properties and country homes.” Although this website may not give information directly about rural poverty, it does show the prices of rural property in areas across the country, showing the prices rural Americans must pay for property, the wealth of urban Americans who move into rural, poverty-stricken areas and the juxtaposition of recreation in rural areas and the poverty that resides there. This website also shows listings for properties and contacts to realtors in rural areas that journalists can contact in order to find more information about rural America and rural real estate.

Non-Profit Associations:

Food Security Learning Center. (2008) Frequently Asked Questions About Rural Poverty. Retrieved June 3, 2008 from http://www.worldhungeryear.org/fslc/faqs/ria_072.asp?section=14&click=8.

- According to its website, World Hunger Year (WHY) is a “leading advocate for innovative, community-based solutions to hunger and poverty WHY challenges society to confront these problems by advancing models that create self-reliance, economic justice, and equal access to nutritious and affordable food.” WHY’s Food Security Learning Center offers extensive information about rural poverty and rural food security. Its “Frequently Asked Questions” section offers reliable statistics and answers to the most important issues surrounding rural poverty today. Any journalist researching rural poverty would benefit from looking at this basic information, especially when looking for a lead into other research.

Housing Assistance Council (HAC). (2008) HAC Homepage. Retrieved June 2, 2008 from http://www.ruralhome.org/index.php.

-The Housing Assistance Council (HAC) is a nonprofit corporation headquartered in Washington, D.C. that has been helping local organizations build affordable homes in rural America since 1971. The HAC offers services to public, nonprofit, and private organizations throughout the rural United States. HAC also maintains a special focus on high-need groups and regions: Indian country, the Mississippi Delta, farm workers, the Southwest border colonies, and Appalachia. HAC’s web page shows researchers the organization’s initiatives; focuses; policy, budget and funding updates and training events. Because HAC is a nonprofit organization that has an extensive focus in rural America, it is an excellent source for any journalist looking to do research on rural poverty and the rural housing crisis. Also, its website blatantly lists the organization’s contact information, making them easily accessible for any journalist.

Institute for Research on Poverty. (2008) IRP Homepage. Retrieved May 28, 2008 from http://www.irp.wisc.edu/.

- IRP is a center for interdisciplinary research into the causes and consequences of poverty and social inequality in the U.S. and is housed at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. This website is government funded and appears to be completely research based without pushing a specific agenda. This site offers answers to frequently asked questions, extensive amounts of research about different areas that affect poverty, publications and a search engine, which offers easy, fast access to information for reporters.

Rural Poverty Research Center. (2008) RUPRI Homepage. Retrieved May 28, 2008 from http://www.rprconline.org/.

- RUPRI speaks openly about its proposed agenda, which is to “examine both the causes and consequences of poverty in rural areas and the factors affecting the success of policies to improve the self-sufficiency and well-being of low income workers and families in rural America,” but offers extensive research, studies, publications, news and external links about rural poverty through its website, making it an excellent source for any reporter looking for academic research about rural poverty.

Government Agencies:

U.S. Census Bureau, Housing and Household Economic Statistics Division. (2008) Poverty. Retrieved April 16, 2008, from http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/poverty/poverty.html.

- This website offers basic facts about poverty and how it is measured, the most recent reports and statistics, publications, definitions, poverty thresholds, and data sources. The website provides extensive statistics and research regarding poverty in the United States as well as links to related sites. Any reporter searching for reliable, government-funded statistics and information regarding any forms of poverty, including rural poverty, would benefit from the information provided on this website.

United States Department of Agriculture. (2008) Rural Development. Retrieved June 2, 2008 from http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rd/index.html.

- This website highlights the ways in which to improve the economy and quality of life in all of rural America. The government organization says it promotes economic development by supporting loans to businesses through banks and community-managed lending pools and offers technical assistance and information to help agricultural and other cooperatives get started and improve the effectiveness of their member services. The website offers links to investments in rural areas, energy initiatives, available funds, success stories and speeches. Also, the site offers updated articles and press releases about the activity within the organization. This site offers extensive contacts and answers for any journalist interested in rural poverty and development.

Expert Sources:

Cancian, Maria, Director, Institute for Research on Poverty (IRP), Professor, Public Affairs and Social Work, 3420 Social Science Building, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1180 Observatory Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, (608) 265-9037, cancian@lafollette.wisc.edu.

- Maria Cancian is the director of the Institute for Research on Poverty as well as a professor of Public Affairs and Social Work at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Cancian's research interests include poverty, welfare and child support policy, and the economic well-being of families with children. She is Principal Investigator of the Child Support Demonstration Evaluation in Wisconsin. Other areas of research include the impact of married women's earnings on the distribution of income, the labor supply effects of the EITC, and the relationship between changes in assortative mating and changes in women's labor force participation. Her experience as director of IRP and as a professor and researcher make her an expert on poverty in general, including rural poverty.

Fluharty, Charles, Director, Rural Policy Research Institute (RUPRI), Truman School of Public Affairs, University of Missouri-Columbia, 214 Middlebush Hall, Columbia, MO, 65211-6100, (573) 882-0316, CFluharty@rupri.org.

- Charles Fluharty is founding director of the Rural Policy Research Institute (RUPRI). Fluharty has authored numerous policy studies, journal articles, and policy briefs addressing the rural differential in public policy decision-making. He is a frequent speaker before national and international public policy, private sector and nonprofit audiences and has presented several Congressional testimonies and briefings. Fluharty also has provided senior policy consultation to most federal departments, state and local governments, associations of government, planning and development organizations, and many foundations. Fluharty has received numerous awards including the Distinguished Service to Rural Life Award from the Rural Sociological Society, the USDA Secretary’s Honor Award for Superior Service (jointly to RUPRI), the President’s Award from the National Association of Development Organizations, and the Distinguished Service Award from the National Association of Counties. Fluharty would be an excellent national expert to contact for any journalist looking for information about rural poverty policy in the U.S.

Green, Gary, Professor of Rural Sociology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 346D Agricultural Hall, 1450 Linden Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, (608) 262-2710, gpgreen@wisc.edu.

- Gary Green is a part of the research staff for the Institute for Research on Poverty. Green's research and teaching focuses primarily on community and economic development. He is currently involved in two projects related to poverty and low-income workers. The first project examines the role of employers, community colleges, and community-based organizations in providing job training in rural areas. He is interested in the constraints that employers face in providing general training and the effectiveness of community-based organizations in overcoming these obstacles. Also, Green is examining the relationship between amenities and development in rural areas. He is interested in understanding the effects of amenity-led development on poverty and income inequality in these regions and the effectiveness of local strategies to balance the preservation of amenities and the promotion of growth. Green is a professor of rural sociology which encompasses rural poverty, making him an excellent expert for any journalist to interview about rural poverty.

Henderson, Debra, Associate Professor of Sociology, Ohio University, Bentley Annex 137, Ohio University, Athens, OH, 45701, (740) 593-1382, henderd2@ohio.edu.

- Debra A. Henderson, Ph.D., Presidential Teacher 2008-2011 and winner of the Arts & Sciences Dean's Outstanding Teacher Award 2006 is Associate Professor of Sociology at Ohio University. Her areas of specialization are sociology of the family, social inequality, poverty, and intersections of race, class and gender. Although Henderson is knowledgeable about many subjects in the area of sociology, she is extremely informed about the issues of poverty and development in rural areas, especially Appalachia. Henderson has done extensive research in the areas of welfare reform, class, race, gender, and families in rural areas. Henderson is an excellent source for specific stories and examples of poverty in rural areas due to her close research of impoverished families in Appalachia, making her an excellent go-to source for any journalist interested in researching rural poverty.

Tickamyer, Ann, Presidential Research Scholar, Professor and Department Chair of Sociology and Anthropology, Ohio University, Bentley Annex 157, Ohio University, Athens, OH, 45701, (740) 593-1381, tickamye@ohio.edu.

- Ohio University Presidential Research Scholar Ann Tickamyer, Ph.D., is professor and department chair of Sociology and Anthropology at Ohio University. Her areas of specialization are inequality; gender and work; and rural poverty and development, making her an expert in rural poverty and poverty research. Tickamyer has taught several classes and seminars regarding poverty including Sociology of Poverty; Poverty, Development and Social Welfare provision; and Proseminar in International Development Studies. She has been published at least 20 times according to the Ohio University Department of Sociology and Anthropology website and has done extensive research on poverty, inequality, poverty in rural areas and welfare reform. Tickamyer is extraordinarily informed about the issues surrounding rural poverty, especially poverty in Appalachia, and is eager to talk to journalists, researchers, and others about the problems facing rural America.

Other Books:

Duncan, C. (1992). Rural Poverty in America. New York, NY: Auburn House.

- This book, which represents a compilation of essays and reports that were in some way funded or contributed to by the Rural Economic Policy Program, highlights the problems over 9 million people in the U.S. living in poverty in rural settings face today. According to the book, rural poverty is not confined to one section of the country or to one ethnic group, but is a national problem, and the resolution of hidden America's economic predicament will now depend on a better understanding of who is poor and why. This book offers clear, readable and informative chapters that describe the declining opportunities available in rural areas, including the social, educational, and political factors that tend to pose barriers to economic development. Cynthia Duncan, the main author and editor of this book, serves as the Assistant Professor of Sociology at the University of New Hampshire making her a prominent, reliable source for rural poverty.

Harrington, M. (1969). The Other America: Poverty in the United States. Baltimore, MD: Penguin Books.

- Michael Harrington, a prominent sociologist of the ‘60s, ‘70s, and ‘80s, analyzes the depth of the poverty crisis during the 1960s, focusing on the invisibility of the elderly, children, and minorities in the allocation of opportunities in American society, including rural America. Harrington uses research from sociologists and economists to reveal the hidden economic inequalities in the United States. The Other America became one factor that perpetuated John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson’s “War on Poverty,” which included the implementation of Medicare and expansion of Social Security. Although this book is slightly dated, many sociologists and writers have said the book remains relevant today, if not more relevant than before. Reporters searching for valuable analysis and interesting quotes regarding poverty and its effects on individuals would benefit from this book.

Specialized Print Reference Books:

Odekon, M. (2006). Rural Antipoverty Programs. Rural Deprivation. Rural Poverty Research Center. Rural Sociological Society. In The Encyclopedia of World Poverty (Vol. 2, pp. 929-934). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, Inc.

-This encyclopedia has four separate entries encompassing the specific issues surrounding rural poverty. “Rural Antipoverty Programs” discusses the implementation of anti-poverty programs in rural areas and the different programs available to assist in rural poverty prevention and rural development. The entry on “Rural Deprivation” briefly describes the problems of unemployment, hunger and lack of infrastructure in rural areas and how these areas experience poverty. The entry titled “Rural Poverty Research Center” simply describes the purpose and implementation of that center and its importance in researching rural poverty and all it encompasses. Finally, the entry on the “Rural Sociological Society” discusses the purpose and importance of the society and how it researches rural poverty from a sociological perspective. All of these entries are excellent sources for a journalist beginning his or her research in rural poverty and development. These sources provide excellent, reliable definitions and descriptions of the topics pertaining to rural poverty and are easily read, short and comprehensible allowing for fast, easy research.

Scholte, J., Robertson, R. (2007). Poverty and Globalization. In The Encyclopedia of Globalization (Vol. 3, pp. 994-1000). New York: MTM Publishing, Inc.

- This encyclopedia gives an unbiased, comprehensive depiction of globalization as a whole and all of its components, all of which greatly impact people in rural America. The entry titles “Poverty and Globalization” gives brief, yet reliable and well-researched information about the debate surrounding globalization and its affect on poverty, unemployment and rural areas. This entry provides background about the anti-globalization debate and how globalization and poverty intermingle in modern society. This encyclopedia is an excellent source for any journalist beginning his or her research on globalization and poverty in general, especially if he or she is searching for basic background information and definitions about globalization.

Recent Books:

Fafchamps, M. (2004). Rural Poverty, Risk and Development. Northampton, MA: Edward Elgar Publishing.

- Marcel Fafchamps, professor in the Department of Economics and Mansfield College at University of Oxford investigates the relationships between rural poverty, risk, and development. Building upon his work in the area, Fafchamps summarizes the contributions of recent theoretical and empirical work to our understanding of how risk affects rural poverty levels in developing countries. In particular the book examines what we do and do not know about risk coping strategies among today’s poor rural societies. Ways in which these strategies may be re-examined and improved by governments and international organizations are proposed. Rural Poverty, Risk and Development is an important contribution to the development literature and should be read by anyone interested in exploring the causes of and solutions to poverty in rural areas, including journalists research rural poverty and development.

Martin, P., Fix, M., Taylor, E. (2006). The New Rural Poverty: Agriculture and Immigration in California. Washington, DC: Urban Institute.

- Philip Martin, a labor economist in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at the University of California, Davis, Michael Fix, vice president and director of studies at the Migration Policy Institute, and J. Edward Taylor, a professor of agricultural and resource economics and director of the Center on Rural Economies of the Americas and Pacific Rim at the University of California, Davis all co-authored this book which examines the role of immigration and its effect on rural poverty in America. The New Rural Poverty examines the effect of rural immigration on agricultural areas in California and meat and poultry processing centers in Delaware and Iowa. The authors examine the interdependencies between immigrants and agriculture in the United States, explore the policy challenges and options, and assess how current proposals for immigration reform will affect rural America. The book is extraordinarily informative on several fronts, including economics, making it a valuable source for journalists researching immigration and poverty, especially in California.

Summers, G., Harvey, M., Mushinski, D., Pickering, K. (2006). Welfare Reform in Persistent Rural Poverty: Dreams, Disenchantments, and Diversity (Rural Studies). State College, PA: Pennsylvania State University Press.

- Kathleen Pickering, Associate Professor of Anthropology at Colorado State University; Mark H. Harvey, Postdoctoral Researcher at the Southern Rural Development Center at Mississippi State University; Gene F. Summers, Professor Emeritus of Rural Sociology at the University of Wisconsin, Madison; and David Mushinski, Associate Professor of Economics at Colorado State University all look at welfare reform as it has been experienced in four rural and impoverished regions of the United States: American Indian reservations in South Dakota, the Rio Grande region, Appalachian Kentucky, and the Mississippi Delta. Welfare Reform in Persistent Rural Poverty sheds light on the opportunities and challenges that welfare reform has imposed on low-income families situated in disadvantaged areas. Combining both qualitative and quantitative research, this book is an excellent guide for scholars and journalists seeking to research the problem of poverty in rural America.