ProfNet is a free service that provides journalists, bloggers, authors and other writers with links to experts and story ideas on the topics they cover. You’ll also find links to job opportunities and other news and resources we think you’ll find useful. To receive these updates by email, send a note to profnet@profnet.com with the industries you cover, and we'll add you to the appropriate edition.

If you are in need of an expert source, you can also submit a free ProfNet query and have qualified sources come to you, or search the free ProfNet Connect database, which features nearly 50,000 user profiles, all searchable by keyword. If you are looking for Spanish-speaking experts, you can also opt to send your query via ProfNet en Español; just select that option when submitting your request.

Submit a free ProfNet query

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EXPERT ALERTS

• Bank Downgrades: Late but Irrelevant
• Tips for Preparing and Proofreading the Perfect Resume
• Shale Gas to Fuel Long-Term Boom
• ADA Discrimination Lawsuits Spiking
• Pinning Employees Can Leave Company Stuck
• Cellphone Radiation Study Takes Wrong Approach

MEDIA JOBS

• Assistant Metro Editor - Louisville, Ky.
• Courts Reporter - Palo Alto, Calif.
• Reporter - Rutherford, N.J.
• Editor - Effingham, Ill.
• Deputy Editor - NYC

OTHER NEWS & RESOURCES

• Spotlight: Deborah Skolnik, Parenting
• Tool Spotlight: MightyText
• Grammar Hammer: There 'May Be' or 'Maybe' a Shark in the Water?

****************
EXPERT ALERTS

Expert Alerts are listings of ProfNet members who are available to discuss timely news topics. If you are interested in interviewing any of the experts, please contact their media representative at the end of the listing. You can also find Expert Alerts online at bit.ly/pncalerts

Bank Downgrades: Late but Irrelevant
Charles Trzcinka
Professor of Finance
Indiana University Kelley School of Business
Trzcinka can discuss the recent downgrades of 15 major banks by Moody’s Investors Services. According to Trzcinka, the downgrades of banks are overdue and Moody’s has been to slow adjust. But in the end, the downgrades won’t matter to investors and consumers -- and possibly even regulators.
“The world has seen through these ratings companies and understands how slow and irrelevant they are. They are useful as communications tools, quickly summarizing a bond or a company, but the market just doesn’t use them to price securities. The government uses them to determine the risk of bank assets, but even this use is under pressure.”
Trzcinka previously served as senior economist with the Office of Economic Analysis of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. He has also been a consultant to a variety of investment organizations, including the Virginia Retirement System and the New York State Attorney General's Office. He has been published extensively in well-respected financial academic journals such as the Journal of Finance, and Journal of Financial Economics.
Bio: bit.ly/KwJ7DL
Website: www.kelley.iu.edu
News Contact: Brianne O’Donnell, brianne.odonnell@gabbe.com or +1-212-220-4444

Tips for Preparing and Proofreading the Perfect Resume
Amanda Rajotte
Director of Career Services at Brown Mackie College in Hopkinsville, Ky.
"In today’s competitive job market, employers can receive literally hundreds of responses to a posted job. A resume often creates the first impression a prospective employer will form about each candidate, and that first impression forms quickly. Business Insider (bit.ly/NjS9HH) reports that research shows 'recruiters spend about six seconds before they make the initial ‘fit/no fit’ decision.' The resume is a gateway to an interview. It’s worthwhile to put time and effort into creating it. If a resume contains mistakes, all the effort after that is wasted, no matter how many you send out."
Rajotte can provide several important tips for preparing and proofreading the perfect resume.
News Contact: J. Stephen Dobbins, stdobbins@brownmackie.edu or +1-513-830-2005

Shale Gas to Fuel Long-Term Boom
Arthur Wright
Attorney
Thompson & Knight in Dallas
"Even as some energy companies cut back on production, a recent study forecasts that the ongoing development of shale-gas resources will account for nearly 1.5 million new jobs by 2015. At the same time, major projects, including several multibillion-dollar petrochemical plants in the works in Texas, likely will increase demand for natural gas. Despite current low natural-gas prices and potential for the oversupply of liquefied natural gas (LNG), I believe over the long haul we’ll continue to see an increase in investment and supply as consumption increases. New markets and demand will be created, while new facilities and outlets such as expanded use of LNG will create the growth to support ongoing shale production. According to the study, cumulative investments in unconventional gas development will reach nearly $3.2 trillion during the next 25 years."
News Contact: Barry Pound, barry@androvett.com or +1-800-559-4534

ADA Discrimination Lawsuits Spiking
Michael Baum
Employment Litigation Attorney
Munck Wilson Mandala in Dallas
"Employment discrimination lawsuits under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) have nearly doubled in the last five years. The 90 percent increase follows changes to the ADA in 2008 that significantly broadened the range of workers protected under the statute and simultaneously made it harder for employers to obtain summary judgments for frivolous complaints. The broader definitions of who qualifies as 'disabled' under the ADA, coupled with an economic downturn in which out-of-work employees are more likely to sue their former employers, has resulted in a significant uptick in these types of lawsuits across the country."
News Contact: Robert Tharp, robert@androvett.com or +1-800-559-4534

Pinning Employees Can Leave Company Stuck
Audrey Mross
Employment Attorney
Munck Wilson Mandala in Dallas
"As Pinterest continues to grow in usage and popularity, it’s probably a good idea to remind employees of a few key rules related to intellectual property. Whenever someone posts or ‘pins’ an image or photograph that doesn’t belong to them, they risk violating someone else’s copyright. And if it happens on a work computer, there may be problems not only for the person posting, but potentially for the company as well, as the company may have some liability for its employees' actions. Employers need to make certain their company’s electronic communications policy includes language that prohibits violating laws with regard to patents, trademarks and copyrights, and make sure employees are following the policy."
News Contact: Mark Annick, mark@androvett.com or +1-800-559-4534

Cellphone Radiation Study Takes Wrong Approach
Papool Chaudhari
Attorney
Reyes Browne Reilley in Dallas
"The problem with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)’s recently announced plan to review its standards for radiation emitted by cellphones is that it’s not looking at the problem the right way. The FCC is starting with an assumption that cellphones are safe, rather than presuming that they may actually pose a danger. If you remember, early on people thought tobacco was safe to use. How many lives might have been saved if we had started with a belief that tobacco was dangerous and worked to disprove that, rather than the other way around? The fact is, cellphones emit radiation and people hold them near their brain. We should presume they pose a danger and work to disprove that before allowing the public, especially children, to use them."
News Contact: Mark Annick, mark@androvett.com or +1-800-559-4534

***************

MEDIA JOBS:

Following are links to job listings for staff and freelance writers. You can view these and more job listings on our Job Board: bit.ly/pncjobboard

• Assistant Metro Editor - Louisville, Ky.
• Courts Reporter - Palo Alto, Calif.
• Reporter - Rutherford, N.J.
• Editor - Effingham, Ill.
• Deputy Editor - NYC

See more listings here.

******************

OTHER NEWS & RESOURCES:

Following are links to other news and resources we think you might find useful. If you have an item you think other reporters would be interested in and would like us to include in a future alert, please drop us a line at profnetalerts@prnewswire.com

• SPOTLIGHT: DEBORAH SKOLNIK, PARENTING: ProfNet Editor Evelyn Tipacti interviews Deborah Skolnik, senior editor at Parenting magazine: bit.ly/KRj3IA

• TOOL SPOTLIGHT: MIGHTYTEXT: ProfNet Editor Jason Hahn highlights MightyText, an Android app and browser extension that allows users to send and reply to text messages from a computer or tablet: bit.ly/LWeIU5

• GRAMMAR HAMMER: THERE 'MAY BE' OR 'MAYBE' A SHARK IN THE WATER?: ProfNet Editor Grace Lavigne explains when it's correct to use "may be" and "maybe": bit.ly/MARvVB

ProfNet is a free service that provides journalists, bloggers, authors and other writers with links to experts and story ideas on the topics they cover. You’ll also find links to job opportunities and other news and resources we think you’ll find useful. To receive these updates by email, send a note to profnet@profnet.com with the industries you cover, and we'll add you to the appropriate edition.

If you are in need of an expert source, you can also submit a free ProfNet query and have qualified sources come to you, or search the free ProfNet Connect database, which features nearly 50,000 user profiles, all searchable by keyword. If you are looking for Spanish-speaking experts, you can also opt to send your query via ProfNet en Español; just select that option when submitting your request.

Submit a free ProfNet query

Search the ProfNet Connect experts database

EXPERT ALERTS

• A Career in Nursing Can Be Fulfilling
• Anticipating Supreme Court Ruling, Doctors' Groups Prepare
• Cellphone Radiation Study Takes Wrong Approach
• Cyberbullying Is a Key Issue in the 21st Century
• How to Protect Your Pet From the Heat
• Life Beyond Parenting: What's Next?
• NFL Concussion Litigation Rushes Forward
• So Hot You Could Die: Heat Stroke
• Summertime Brings Tire Failures
• Work Together to Set Kids' Summer Schedules

MEDIA JOBS

• Editor - Effingham, Ill.
• Copy Editor - Yuma, Ariz.
• Backpack Journalist - St. Louis
• Business Reporter - NYC
• Staff Writer - Norfolk, Va.

OTHER NEWS & RESOURCES

• Pet Blogs: Sit, Stay, Read This
• Spotlight: Deborah Skolnik, Parenting
• Interesting Expert of the Week, Banquet Edition

********************

EXPERT ALERTS

Expert Alerts are listings of ProfNet members who are available to discuss timely news topics. If you are interested in interviewing any of the experts, please contact their media representative at the end of the listing. You can also find Expert Alerts online at bit.ly/pncalerts

Anticipating Supreme Court Ruling, Doctors' Groups Prepare
Robert W. Brenner, M.D., MMM
Chief Medical Officer
Summit Medical Group in Berkeley Heights, N.J.
Brenner can speak to how New Jersey’s 225+ physician private multispecialty medical group is preparing for the upcoming Supreme Court health care ruling with regard to practice acquisitions, technology and infrastructure investment, and cost containment. He is expert discussing financial and clinical aspects of the changing health care landscape.
“Regardless of the Supreme Court's decision, health care is changing. There are many ways physician groups can meet these changes to maintain their quality of care and grow their group practice. Physicians can help their patient get better sooner by encouraging them in preventive health habits. They can adopt or join a multispecialty model of care that offers integrated care and helps reduce hospital admissions and stays. They can implement an electronic health record to reduce duplicate procedures and errors while documenting their high standard of care. These strategies can help physician groups answer the call for cost containment while providing what is best for the patient.”
News Contact: Maureen Bennett, mbennett@smgnj.com or +1-973-495-9899

A Career in Nursing Can Be Fulfilling
Wendi Jakubiak, RN
Program Administrator for Academic Affairs at Brown Mackie College in Oklahoma City
"If you are searching for a career that offers many opportunities, take a close look at the nursing profession. Nursing is projected to grow faster than average for all occupations through 2020, as reported in the 2012 Occupational Outlook Handbook from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) (1.usa.gov/KUbH2m). The BLS attributes this expansion to technological advances and greater awareness of preventive care, in addition to the rising health care demands of the aging baby boomer population. A degree in nursing offers more options than you may think."
Jakubiak will offer insight into the professional options available. She worked as a nurse for 25 years before becoming a certified nurse educator.
News Contact: J. Stephen Dobbins, stdobbins@brownmackie.edu or +1-513-830-2005

Cellphone Radiation Study Takes Wrong Approach
Papool Chaudhari
Attorney
Reyes Browne Reilley in Dallas
"The problem with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)’s recently announced plan to review its standards for radiation emitted by cellphones is that it’s not looking at the problem the right way. The FCC is starting with an assumption that cellphones are safe, rather than presuming that they may actually pose a danger. If you remember, early on people thought tobacco was safe to use. How many lives might have been saved if we had started with a belief that tobacco was dangerous and worked to disprove that, rather than the other way around? The fact is, cellphones emit radiation and people hold them near their brain. We should presume they pose a danger and work to disprove that before allowing the public, especially children, to use them."
News Contact: Mark Annick, mark@androvett.com or +1-800-559-4534

Cyberbullying Is a Key Issue in the 21st Century
Joshua Taylor, PsyD
Adjunct Faculty
Argosy University in Orange County, Calif.
"Cyberbullying stands as a key issue among young people in the 21st century. Primarily among adolescents, cyberbullying is the use of technology to harass, threaten, embarrass or target another person.”
Taylor is able to discuss cyberbullying, from its frequency and causes, to how to address the issue with children.
News Contact: Anne K. Dean, adean@argosy.edu or +1-714-620-0910

How to Protect Your Pet From the Heat
Dawn Bolka, Registered Veterinary Technologist (RVT)
Veterinary Technology Instructor at Brown Mackie College in Michigan City, Ind.
"When the weather warms and the heat arrives, it seems everyone has a reason to smile. Whether you prefer to cool off with a dip in the pool or with a tall cool drink in the shade, we all have ways to beat the heat. But what about your dog? Pets can suffer from heat just like people. There are steps you can take to help ensure your dog doesn’t overheat in hot weather. A dog’s normal body temperature is 101 degrees Fahrenheit, and sometimes up to 102.5 degrees. Match this base with rising temperatures and a pet can get hot quickly."
Bolka will offer insight into keeping your pet safe during the hot months.
News Contact: J. Stephen Dobbins, stdobbins@brownmackie.edu or +1-513-830-2005

Life Beyond Parenting: What's Next?
Natalie Caine
Owner
Empty Nest Support Services
"Whether solo or married, parents' roles shift when their children leave for college, marriage, work or volunteering. Here are some tips for parents: 1) like it or not, your children lead now; 2) pause before you text or call them; 3) now put you in the center of your circle; 4) find new meaning beyond parenthood; and 5) build a community, since the school days are over. Even if children are living at home because of the economy, parents' expectations need a course correction."
Caine, who lives in Los Angeles, is a parent who created and launched Empty Nest Support Services seven years ago, when her daughter was a senior in high school. She has been featured in Time, USA Today, Huffington Post and MariaShriver.com. Caine can discuss topics such as how to enjoy summer before you hug goodbye, how to plan for the big drop-off at college, marriage at this stage of life, how to reinvent yourself, where new friendships are and spiritual practices for the empty nester.
Website: www.emptynestsupport.com
Expert Contact: natalie@emptynestsupport.com

NFL Concussion Litigation Rushes Forward
Eugene Egdorf
Sports and Entertainment Law Attorney
The Lanier Law Firm in Houston
"Now that the concussion-related complaints of more than 2,000 former National Football League (NFL) players have been consolidated, expect the NFL to push for a quick dismissal of the claims. The NFL will claim that health issues are covered under the league’s collective bargaining agreement (CBA), but a good case could be made that the NFL and its helmet supplier, Riddell, have long known of the dangers and hid them from players. And I don’t know how information that has been withheld could be subject to the CBA, because you can’t really negotiate for rights you didn’t know you have."
News Contact: Alan Bentrup, alan@androvett.com or +1-800-559-4534

So Hot You Could Die: Heat Stroke
David Schreck, M.D., MS, FACP, FACEP
Chairman and Medical Director of the Summit Medical Group Department of Emergency and Hospital Medicine
Schreck can speak to the dangers of high heat and humidity, and how to recognize and treat symptoms of heat-related illness.
"On average, up to 400 people will die this season in the U.S. because of heat-related illnesses such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke. These are two types of heat-related stresses that occur when the body loses its normal ability to dissipate heat and cool down. Heat exhaustion occurs first. It is manifested by muscular aching, spasms, cramping and can include rapid heartbeat, intense thirst and profuse sweating. Heat-exhaustion patients should be taken out of the sun and moved to a shady area. Cool them down with a moist compress and give water only if they are fully conscious. Heat stroke is the most dangerous type of heat-related stress. Heat stroke manifests three symptoms that differ from heat exhaustion: excessively high temperatures in excess of 105-106 degrees, warm and dry skin (vs. moist skin with heat exhaustion), and confusion -- in fact, patients may even be comatose. Heat stroke is an absolute medical emergency, and any patient with heat stroke should be brought immediately to the nearest emergency facility, even by calling 911 if necessary."
News Contact: Maureen Bennett, mbennett@smgj.com or +1-973-495-9899

Summertime Brings Tire Failures
Wesley Todd Ball
Tire-Related Litigation Attorney
Farrar & Ball LLP in Houston
"Increased summer travel, compounded by stifling road heat, can seriously affect tire safety, so it is always a good idea before any long trip that you conduct a detailed inspection of each of your tires, including the spare. Look the tire over and run your hands along the tread, checking for foreign objects, separations or bulges, which are evidence of a failure sure to come. Any questionable issues are an immediate cause for concern, and warrant a trip to the local tire shop."
News Contact: Alan Bentrup, alan@androvett.com or +1-800-559-4534

Work Together to Set Kids' Summer Schedules
Amber Liddell Alwais
Family Law Attorney
McCurley Orsinger McCurley Nelson & Downing, L.L.P. in San Antonio
"Summer means a break from routine, and that disruption can wreak havoc with family schedules, particularly when the parents are divorced. Couples who are divorced or in the process of divorcing need to remember that court visitation orders must be followed, but the saving grace is that most court-ordered visitation starts with the phrase 'In the absence of a mutual agreement.' So, before scheduling summer events, talk with the other parent and reach some agreements. It is important to not schedule activities during the visitation time of the other parent, unless you have the other parent's agreement in advance. And remember: as children get older, parents become less 'cool' in their eyes and they will want more independence. Both parents should try to keep this in mind when scheduling their teens' summer activities and visits."
News Contact: Rhonda Reddick, rhonda@androvett.com or +1-800-559-4534

********************

MEDIA JOBS:

Following are links to job listings for staff and freelance writers. You can view these and more job listings on our Job Board: bit.ly/pncjobboard

• Editor - Effingham, Ill.
• Copy Editor - Yuma, Ariz.
• Backpack Journalist - St. Louis
• Business Reporter - NYC
• Staff Writer - Norfolk, Va.

See more listings here.

********************

OTHER NEWS & RESOURCES:

Following are links to other news and resources we think you might find useful. If you have an item you think other reporters would be interested in and would like us to include in a future alert, please drop us a line at profnetalerts@prnewswire.com

• PET BLOGS: SIT, STAY, READ THIS: PR Newswire's Thomas Hynes offers a brief tour of some of the best pet blogs he's seen: bit.ly/NZHBPk

• SPOTLIGHT: DEBORAH SKOLNIK, PARENTING: ProfNet Editor Evelyn Tipacti interviews Deborah Skolnik, senior editor at Parenting magazine: bit.ly/KRj3IA

• INTERESTING EXPERT OF THE WEEK, BANQUET EDITION: ProfNet Director Maria Perez interviews Jeff Simms, executive chef of banquets at The Breakers Palm Beach, a luxury oceanfront resort in Florida: bit.ly/NZIoQn

ProfNet is a free service that provides journalists, bloggers, authors and other writers with links to experts and story ideas on the topics they cover. You’ll also find links to job opportunities and other news and resources we think you’ll find useful. To receive these updates by email, send a note to profnet@profnet.com with the industries you cover, and we'll add you to the appropriate edition.

If you are in need of an expert source, you can also submit a free ProfNet query and have qualified sources come to you, or search the free ProfNet Connect database, which features nearly 50,000 user profiles, all searchable by keyword. If you are looking for Spanish-speaking experts, you can also opt to send your query via ProfNet en Español; just select that option when submitting your request.

Submit a free ProfNet query

Search the ProfNet Connect experts database

EXPERT ALERTS

• Unnecessary Suffering Is Optional
• Campus Safety, Violence and Rebuilding Community Culture
• Five Steps to Positively Affect Community Health Through Education
• Getting Kids 'Tuned up' to Return to School
• Marketing Your Garage Sale
• Men's Self-Image and Grooming
• PTSD Requires Professional Help

MEDIA JOBS

• Copy Editor - NYC
• Deputy Sports Editor - NYC
• Web Editor - Huntington, Ind.
• Staff Writer/Blogger - Orlando, Fla.
• Copy Editor - Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

OTHER NEWS & RESOURCES

• Reporting for Bloggers
• Grammar Hammer: 'Mad Men' Gets Hanged or Hung?
• 40+ Content Creation Ideas for Your Blog

********************

EXPERT ALERTS

Expert Alerts are listings of ProfNet members who are available to discuss timely news topics. If you are interested in interviewing any of the experts, please contact their media representative at the end of the listing. You can also find Expert Alerts online at bit.ly/pncalerts

Unnecessary Suffering Is Optional
Michael Ellner
Mind-Body Medicine Educator
"Chronic stress, pain and anxiety are fueling an unnecessary epidemic of chronic suffering. However, there are evidence-based self-help tools that can help people break out of the vicious cycle of stress, anxiety, pain and the unnecessary suffering that feeds off them. There is a growing awareness that medical professionals need to be able to discuss and possibly teach these mindfulness-based techniques to their patients. Also, practicing mindfulness can help doctors and health care professionals manage their own stress and anxieties, which will help them to communicate with their patients more effectively."
Ellner, who resides in New York City, speaks extensively about how mind-body approaches can help people relax; recharge; and relieve stress, pain and anxiety. He is available as a resource on mind-body healing and medical hypnosis. Ellner will be offering mind-body stress and anxiety reduction training to New Yorkers, in light of the urgent need to educate doctors and health care professionals, and help people living with chronic stress, anxiety and pain avoid unnecessary suffering. He will be conducting the training on behalf of the New York Hypnosis Center (a professional membership educational organization) located in Bayside Queens, N.Y., from June 23-24. You can hear Ellner discuss effective medical communication in this video: bit.ly/MNflxS
Websites: www.ellner.info and www.nycanxietyhypnosis.com
Expert Contact: michaelellner@verizon.net

Campus Safety, Violence and Rebuilding Community Culture
David Moore, Ph.D., CDP
Associate Professor
Argosy University in Seattle
"Campus safety and violence are so difficult to deal with, since they are often the act of an isolated disturbed person. It is essential to have people who have solid experience to provide leadership and counselor supervision to rebuild the community culture and sense of safety."
Moore, who has led mental health response teams in the Santana High School in San Diego, Calif. and Granite Hills High School in El Cajon, Calif., and assisted with shootings at Pacific Lutheran University and the high school for Red Lake Ojibway Tribe, is available to discuss the importance of mental health training and prevention to help schools and other institutions prepare for and cope with shooting tragedies.
News Contact: Anne K. Dean, adean@argosy.edu or +1-714-620-0910

Five Steps to Positively Affect Community Health Through Education
Dr. Mine S. Seniye
Chair of the Allied Health Department
Brown Mackie College in Albuquerque, N.M.
"Health education is a rewarding career for many. You don’t have to be a doctor or a nurse to become involved. It takes professionals in accounting, research, law and administration -- as well as individuals who enjoy working with people -- all collaborating to improve the well-being of others. Why care about community health? Several reasons, according to the Association of Schools of Public Health’s website What is Public Health? (bit.ly/M8kOe1), are: the importance of improving access to health care, controlling infectious disease and reducing substance abuse."
Seniye, a dedicated public health professional who has traveled the world preparing students and health care professionals to care for underserved populations, outlines five steps to implement a successful health program.
News Contact: J. Stephen Dobbins, stdobbins@brownmackie.edu or +1-513-830-2005

Getting Kids 'Tuned up' to Return to School
Dominick P. Ferello, ABD, Ed.S.
Professor
Argosy University in Tampa, Fla.
"Summer can be a busy time for families. Parents, with the best of intentions, try to provide experiences to keep their children academically engaged and their brains 'tuned up' for the return to school in the fall. Unfortunately, with a busy summer schedule, parents can often find themselves at a loss for how to get their children back in 'school mode' with only a short time left before the beginning of the new school year."
Ferello discusses the importance of a getting kids "tuned up" and ready to return to school. He also offers ways that parents can get their children back in school mode to ensure a successful start to the new school year.
News Contact: Anne K. Dean, adean@argosy.edu or +1-714-620-0910

Marketing Your Garage Sale
Cheryl Pilchik
Advertising Faculty
The Art Institute of Philadelphia
"Give your garage sale a facelift to keep it fresh and appealing. Borrowing effective strategies and tactics used in the merchandising and advertising industries to engage the customer and communicate with them on their terms will help to ensure your success. It's important to start with the basics of marketing -- the four P's: price, product, promotion and place. With garage sales, it works best to think of the product as the garage sale itself, and the items to be sold as lines of that product."
Pilchik can discuss: 1) Product and Price: Product mix is important in retailing as is price. Study sales in your neighborhood to see what works best. 2) Place (Scheduling/Location): Timing and location are extremely important. Knowing your target market is paramount in timing your sale. Consider scheduling with other activities in your neighborhood; art shows or community events will help draw additional traffic. 3) Promotion (Advertising/Marketing): One successful strategy is choosing a theme related to the items to be sold and carrying out the theme in all aspects of the sale. Whatever your theme, consider: 1) neighborhood signs and flyers, placed on local business, PTA and school/church bulletin boards, and where permitted, on street corners or in yards; 2) local newspaper listings and online listings like craigslist.org; 3) a social networking fan page with an event for the garage sale inviting friends and family; 4) your own Facebook and Twitter pages to inform your “friends” and “followers” about your event; 5) Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest on the day of the sale to distribute special offers, share photos of items for sale or offer incentives for referring fans or customers.
Website: www.artinstitutes.edu/philadelphia
News Contact: Marcia Gomez, magomez@aii.edu or +1-305-428-5676

Men's Self-Image and Grooming
Ted Gournelos, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Critical Media and Cultural Studies
Rollins College in Winter Park, Fla.
“I've been following the increasingly sophisticated way both women and men are approached by advertisers, often with stabs at advertising conventions (Old Spice, U by Kotex, etc.). There is some research to show that men's approaches to their bodies are shifting, but we should remember that the style of the 'ideal' man changes over time. A century ago, a 'dandy' form was attractive; men in the 18th century spent at least as much time as many women dressing and attending to their bodies. Now, we have this strange hybrid between the hyper-masculine man and the metrosexual, where you have to starve yourself and take steroids at the same time, and shave your entire body and get a spray tan. I think, in other words, that men have become placed in a double bind, and that has made them very insecure (necessarily so). That makes us very susceptible to advertising, whether it is ads themselves or whether it's the television or films that give advertising its language and appeal.”
Gournelos earned his Ph.D. in communications and his MFA in sculpture from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. He taught at the University of California, Berkeley; and Maryville University in St. Louis before coming to Rollins College in 2010. His first book, "Popular Culture and the Future of Politics," was released in 2009, and his second and third books, "A Decade of Dark Humor: How Comedy, Irony, and Satire Shaped Post-9/11 Politics" and "Transgression 2.0: Cultural Opposition in a Digital Age," were released in 2011. Gournelos can discuss the topic of men's self-image in light of Morgan Spurlock's documentary "Mansome." He can also discuss: new media, the Internet, oppositional politics, satire, irony, comedy, gender, race and sexuality studies, television and film, digital storytelling, community activism, and community media.
News Contact: Ashley Blasewitz, ashleyblasewitz@costadevault.com or +1-407-657-4818

PTSD Requires Professional Help
Joshua Taylor, PsyD
Adjunct Faculty
Argosy University in Orange County, Calif.
“Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affects more than 50 percent of all veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. The risk of exposure to trauma has always been a part of the human condition. PTSD is unique among psychiatric diagnoses because of the great importance placed upon the traumatic event. While treatable, everyone responds differently to different types of events. The most important thing is to get professional help if you suspect PTSD.”
Taylor is able to discuss the prevalence of PTSD in service members, specifics about the disorder and what must be done to address a soldier’s mental health needs when returning from the combat arena.
News Contact: Anne K. Dean, adean@argosy.edu or +1-714-620-0910

********************

MEDIA JOBS:

Following are links to job listings for staff and freelance writers. You can view these and more job listings on our Job Board: bit.ly/pncjobboard

• Copy Editor - NYC
• Deputy Sports Editor - NYC
• Web Editor - Huntington, Ind.
• Staff Writer/Blogger - Orlando, Fla.
• Copy Editor - Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

See more listings here.

********************

OTHER NEWS & RESOURCES:

Following are links to other news and resources we think you might find useful. If you have an item you think other reporters would be interested in and would like us to include in a future alert, please drop us a line at profnetalerts@prnewswire.com

• REPORTING FOR BLOGGERS: ProfNet Director Maria Perez recaps BlogWorld & New Media Expo's session on the ins and outs of reporting for bloggers: bit.ly/Ny3iWq

• GRAMMAR HAMMER: 'MAD MEN' GETS HANGED OR HUNG?: ProfNet Editor Grace Lavigne reviews the proper usage of "hanged" vs. "hung": bit.ly/LJbMtt

• 40+ CONTENT CREATION IDEAS FOR YOUR BLOG: ProfNet Director Maria Perez recaps BlogWorld & New Media Expo's session on finding content for your blog: bit.ly/M5wX7z

ProfNet is a free service that provides journalists, bloggers, authors and other writers with links to experts and story ideas on the topics they cover. You’ll also find links to job opportunities and other news and resources we think you’ll find useful. To receive these updates by email, send a note to profnet@profnet.com with the industries you cover, and we'll add you to the appropriate edition.

If you are in need of an expert source, you can also submit a free ProfNet query and have qualified sources come to you, or search the free ProfNet Connect database, which features nearly 50,000 user profiles, all searchable by keyword. If you are looking for Spanish-speaking experts, you can also opt to send your query via ProfNet en Español; just select that option when submitting your request.

Submit a free ProfNet query

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EXPERT ALERTS

• Victims Too Often Abused Again During Criminal Trials
• Decision May Help Curb Debt Collector Suits
• Getting Kids 'Tuned up' to Return to School
• Panhandling Bans Force Free-Speech Fights
• PTSD Requires Professional Help

MEDIA JOBS

• Market Blogger - NYC
• News Editor - NYC
• Multimedia Editor - NYC
• Copy Editor - Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
• Multimedia Journalist - Sacramento, Calif.

OTHER NEWS & RESOURCES

• Grammar Hammer: 'Mad Men' Gets Hanged or Hung?
• Reporting for Bloggers
• Dear Gracie: How to Tactfully Edit Someone's Writing

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EXPERT ALERTS

Expert Alerts are listings of ProfNet members who are available to discuss timely news topics. If you are interested in interviewing any of the experts, please contact their media representative at the end of the listing. You can also find Expert Alerts online at bit.ly/pncalerts

Victims Too Often Abused Again During Criminal Trials
Charla Aldous
Trial Attorney
Aldous Law Firm in Dallas
Aldous won a $9.3 million verdict last year against the Episcopal School of Dallas (ESD) based on the school's role in the sexual abuse of a 16-year-old girl by a teacher: “As the criminal trial against former Penn State coach Jerry Sandusky gets underway, watchers should be ready to see a ‘blame the victim’ defense. It is unfortunate and tragic that sexual-abuse victims often are further abused by our legal system. In the ESD case, our expert talked about ‘secondary victimization,’ meaning a child is abused first by the predator and then a second time by ‘society,’ including the accused’s defense team. The courage shown by Sandusky’s accusers stands in stark contrast to that demonstrated by school officials. These victims are willing to stand up and tell a jury what happened. Who at Penn State could have, or should have, stood up and said something when the abuse happened?”
News Contact: Alan Bentrup, alan@androvett.com or +1-800-559-4534

Decision May Help Curb Debt-Collector Suits
Brandon Starling
Debt-Collection Attorney
Shackelford Melton & McKinley in Dallas
“The U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision to hear arguments on whether debt-collection agencies can collect legal fees against debtors who sue them has the potential to shift the legal landscape, and this might make law firms that file massive numbers of these fair debt-collection suits think twice. Media reports indicate that claims against debt collectors increased nationally from about 3,200 in 2006 to more than 12,000 in 2011. Many of these cases against debt collectors are filed by firms whose business models focus on filing a large volume of lawsuits, in part because if debtors win, the debt-collection firms often must pay for the plaintiff’s legal fees. If the Supreme Court were to say these debt-collection firms can be awarded fees and costs in their legal defense, it might make these plaintiff firms more reasonable and easier to deal with.”
News Contact: Rhonda Reddick, rhonda@androvett.com or +1-800-559-4534

Getting Kids 'Tuned up' to Return to School
Dominick P. Ferello, ABD, Ed.S.
Professor
Argosy University, Tampa
"Summer can be a busy time for families. Parents, with the best of intentions, try to provide experiences to keep their children academically engaged and their brains 'tuned up' for the return to school in the fall. Unfortunately, with a busy summer schedule, parents can often find themselves at a loss for how to get their children back in 'school mode' with only a short time left before the beginning of the new school year."
Ferello discusses the importance of a getting kids "tuned up" and ready to return to school. He also offers ways that parents can get their children back in school mode to ensure a successful start to the new school year.
News Contact: Anne K. Dean, adean@argosy.edu or +1-714-620-0910

Panhandling Bans Force Free-Speech Fights
David Furlow
Attorney
Thompson & Knight in Houston
“The efforts of state and local governments to curb panhandling and related activities are facing a growing number of court challenges across the nation. For example, last week, eight individuals filed a federal lawsuit against the city of Chicago, claiming that its ordinance restricting ‘aggressive panhandling’ violates free-speech statutes. In March, a federal judge in Utah ruled the state’s panhandling ban violated First Amendment protections, while a similar Charlottesville, Va., law is facing a high-profile appellate fight. The courts continue to say that the Constitution protects your right to speak your mind, including the right to panhandle, beg and feed the poor. However, each ordinance must be evaluated on its own merits because courts have upheld laws that balance free-speech rights against societal considerations such as order, traffic safety and public health.”
News Contact: Barry Pound, barry@androvett.com or +1-800-559-4534

PTSD Requires Professional Help
Joshua Taylor, PsyD
Adjunct Faculty
Argosy University, Orange County
“Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affects more than 50 percent of all veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. The risk of exposure to trauma has always been a part of the human condition. PTSD is unique among psychiatric diagnoses because of the great importance placed upon the traumatic event. While treatable, everyone responds differently to different types of events. The most important thing is to get professional help if you suspect PTSD.”
Taylor is able to discuss the prevalence of PTSD in service members, specifics about the disorder and what must be done to address a soldier’s mental health needs when returning from the combat arena.
News Contact: Anne K. Dean, adean@argosy.edu or +1-714-620-0910

***************

MEDIA JOBS:

Following are links to job listings for staff and freelance writers. You can view these and more job listings on our Job Board: bit.ly/pncjobboard

• Market Blogger - NYC
• News Editor - NYC
• Multimedia Editor - NYC
• Copy Editor - Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
• Multimedia Journalist - Sacramento, Calif.

See more listings here.

********************

OTHER NEWS & RESOURCES:

Following are links to other news and resources we think you might find useful. If you have an item you think other reporters would be interested in and would like us to include in a future alert, please drop us a line at profnetalerts@prnewswire.com

• GRAMMAR HAMMER: 'MAD MEN' GETS HANGED OR HUNG?: ProfNet Editor Grace Lavigne reviews the proper usage of "hanged" vs. "hung": bit.ly/LJbMtt

• REPORTING FOR BLOGGERS: ProfNet Director Maria Perez recaps BlogWorld & New Media Expo's session on the ins and outs of reporting for bloggers: bit.ly/Ny3iWq

• DEAR GRACIE: HOW TO TACTFULLY EDIT SOMEONE'S WRITING: ProfNet Editor Grace Lavigne discusses how to effectively critique writing without being harsh: bit.ly/KBdWM8

ProfNet is a free service that provides journalists, bloggers, authors and other writers with links to experts and story ideas on the topics they cover. You’ll also find links to job opportunities and other news and resources we think you’ll find useful. To receive these updates by email, send a note to profnet@profnet.com with the industries you cover, and we'll add you to the appropriate edition.

If you are in need of an expert source, you can also submit a free ProfNet query and have qualified sources come to you, or search the free ProfNet Connect database, which features nearly 50,000 user profiles, all searchable by keyword. If you are looking for Spanish-speaking experts, you can also opt to send your query via ProfNet en Español; just select that option when submitting your request.

Submit a free ProfNet query

Search the ProfNet Connect experts database

EXPERT ALERTS

• Best Practices in Prevention-Based Employee Health Programs
• Living Successfully With Aphasia
• Safe Tans
• Skincare Tips for the Summer
• Tips to Increase Your Profits at Garage Sales

MEDIA JOBS

• Reporter - Morris, Ill.
• Reporter - Winston-Salem, N.C.
• Associate Editor - Norwalk, Conn.
• News Associate Producer - Monterey-Salinas, Calif.
• Managing Editor - Los Altos, Calif.

OTHER NEWS & RESOURCES

• Dear Gracie: How to Tactfully Edit Someone's Writing
• Tool Spotlight: Infogr.am
• Grammar Hammer: Who or Whom Wants a Cat Hug? Me-ow!

********************

EXPERT ALERTS

Expert Alerts are listings of ProfNet members who are available to discuss timely news topics. If you are interested in interviewing any of the experts, please contact their media representative at the end of the listing. You can also find Expert Alerts online at bit.ly/pncalerts

Best Practices in Prevention-Based Employee Health Programs
Jennifer Turgiss
Vice President, Health Management
Virgin HealthMiles
"Forward-thinking employers know helping their employees make healthy lifestyle choices will help curb rising health care costs and improve workforce productivity. National Employee Wellness Month, which is in June, is a perfect milestone for companies at any stage of the wellness curve to learn proven best practices from their peers about creating a stronger culture of health within their organization. One critical success factor for companies doing wellness right: they not only offer a relevant mix of health and wellness benefits, but also effectively promote and manage these programs so employees take full advantage of them. If employees aren’t aware of their employers’ health and wellness programs and how to participate, health behaviors won’t change."
Virgin HealthMiles is a provider of corporate programs and technologies that engage the workforce in good health.
Website: bit.ly/JSPAOa
News Contact: Marian Hughes, mhughes@tieronepr.com or +1-708-246-0083

Living Successfully With Aphasia
Ellayne Ganzfried
Executive Director
National Aphasia Association (NAA)
"Living successfully with aphasia is all about creating a new normal. People with aphasia have not lost their intellect, so they learn to be adaptable and reinvent themselves so that they can lead fulfilling lives. The more educated the public is through Aphasia Awareness Month, the better able people with aphasia are to reintegrate into daily life, which is so critical for their recovery."
Ganzfried is a licensed and nationally honored speech-language pathologist. She has been helping people recover from and cope with aphasia throughout her career and sees National Aphasia Awareness Month (June) as important for people with aphasia -- the inability to speak, read, write or understand language -- after a stroke or traumatic brain injury. For 25 years, NAA has promoted early medical intervention; intensive speech therapy; and support of family, friends and the public as the best strategies for optimal recovery. Ganzfried can address questions about aphasia and other communication disorders.
News Contact: Patty Murray, patty@murraypublicrelations.com or +1-732-249-6493

Safe Tans
Dr. Joshua Fox
Founder and Director
Advanced Dermatology PC in New York City
“There is no such thing as a healthy tan, at least not one caused by UV rays. Sun exposure is the leading cause of skin cancer, which makes it one of the most preventable types of cancer. Yet in a recent survey from the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), tanned skin was rated one of the most attractive skin features among those surveyed. So what is the safest way to bronze? Products have come a long way from their original shades of 'Oompa-Loompa orange.'"
Fox can offer tips on how to get a healthy glow after the pale of winter’s hibernation, including salon spray tans; at-home airbrush kits; self-tanner creams to rub on; and even TanTowels, where color is applied with one body wipe and takes seconds to set in. (Fox is not affiliated with TanTowel in any way.)
News Contact: Melissa Chefec, mchefec@gmail.com or +1-203-968-6625

Skincare Tips for the Summer
Dr. Patricia Wexler
Associate Clinical Professor at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine and Dermatologist at Wexler Dermatology
"Sunscreen with an SPF 15 or higher should be applied every two hours while out in the sun. Be sure to go for a non-comedogenic sunscreen to avoid clogging the pores. After sun exposure, exfoliate at least once a week to get rid of all of the dead skin cells."
Wexler, associate clinical professor for the Mount Sinai School of Medicine and renowned New York dermatologist for more than 25 years, is able to offer invaluable advice on caring for your skin during the summer to avoid premature aging and sun damage. She can also discuss a variety of related topics, including skincare with regard to different skin types and problematic skin.
Website: www.wexlerdermatology.com
News Contact: Kristen Ott, kott@fullpic.com

Tips to Increase Your Profits at Garage Sales
Dr. Larry Stultz
Department Chair of Advertising, Web Design and Interactive Media
The Art Institute of Atlanta-Decatur
"As the weather warms up, garage sales begin appearing all over the U.S. Garage sales are a great way to clean out clutter while making some extra dollars for home improvements, bills, vacations or even 'retail therapy.' It is imperative to use the same thinking retailers use to maximize the visibility and sales opportunities for a garage sale."
Stultz can discuss: 1) Product and Price: Study sales in your neighborhood to see what works best. Check out the prices, too. You should consider not only the original cost, but also what others charge at sales like yours. Rather than use a lot of time individually pricing each item, consider grouping like items together on large tables, posting the same price for all items on that table -- like retailers do. 2) Place (Scheduling/Location): Think about a high-traffic area; retailers pay a premium for high-traffic locations. Consider scheduling with other activities in your neighborhood. Art shows or community events will help draw additional traffic. 3) Promotion (Advertising/Marketing): One successful strategy is choosing a theme related to the items to be sold and carrying out the theme in all aspects of the sale. For example, if most of the items to be sold are from the 1980s, you’d play '80s music, have everyone working at the sale dress in '80s style and use '80s elements in your flyers.
Website: bit.ly/LeJP8D
News Contact: Marcia Gomez, magomez@aii.edu or +1-305-428-5676

********************

MEDIA JOBS:

Following are links to job listings for staff and freelance writers. You can view these and more job listings on our Job Board: bit.ly/pncjobboard

• Reporter - Morris, Ill.
• Reporter - Winston-Salem, N.C.
• Associate Editor - Norwalk, Conn.
• News Associate Producer - Monterey-Salinas, Calif.
• Managing Editor - Los Altos, Calif.

See more listings here.

********************

OTHER NEWS & RESOURCES:

Following are links to other news and resources we think you might find useful. If you have an item you think other reporters would be interested in and would like us to include in a future alert, please drop us a line at profnetalerts@prnewswire.com

• DEAR GRACIE: HOW TO TACTFULLY EDIT SOMEONE'S WRITING: ProfNet Editor Grace Lavigne gets the input of four ProfNet experts on how to edit and critique writers' work without being cruel: bit.ly/KBdWM8

• TOOL SPOTLIGHT: INFOGR.AM: ProfNet Editor Jason Hahn highlights Infogr.am, a website that helps you create visually appealing infographics and charts: bit.ly/KH4dDC

• GRAMMAR HAMMER: WHO OR WHOM WANTS A CAT HUG? ME-OW! ProfNet Editor Grace Lavigne reviews when to use who vs. whom: bit.ly/LDjCAW