Friday, Aug. 3, 2007

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

They distort, you decide?

Media mogul Rupert Murdoch, the owner of the parent company of Fox News Channel, has purchased the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) for a reported $5.6 billion. Will the venerable economic newspaper of record be subject to the sensationalism of Murdoch’s other properties? Dr. Bob Pondillo, electronic media communication, says, “Murdoch is not shy about using his media outlets to push his own narrowly constructed ideologies, despite his protests to the contrary regarding the WSJ. He owns it; he’ll do whatever he wants with it … especially after this media glare subsides.” (Incidentally, The Guardian reports that a member of the panel established to protect the Journal’s editorial integrity runs a foundation that received a $2.5 million donation from Murdoch’s News Corporation.)

Contact Pondillo at 615-904-8465.
pondillo@mtsu.edu

Back to school

It’s an exciting way to kick off a new school year! It’s the Back to School Celebration at MTSU’s Murphy Center from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 4. The mission of the celebration is to bring together Pre-K-through-12 students “together with the broader community in a broader understanding of the honor of an education,” according to http://www.newschoolyear.com. Special guests include Bruce Degen, author/illustrator of the “Magic School Bus” series, Miss Tennessee 2007 Grace Gore, and Melissa Penry of WKRN-TV.

To download a ticket or for more information, go to the Web site cited above, or call 615-904-9664.

Shhh! It’s confidential!

The increased emphasis on privacy rights in recent years has resulted in legislation to protect those rights. The federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA), which went into effect in 2003, is an example. But what happens when a court requires knowledge of those medical records that HIPPA was passed to protect? Ken Sanney, adjunct professor of recording industry and an attorney who deals with such issues, says, “Having a closed session to review medical records is a common practice in the judicial system that is known as an ‘in camera’ review. Such closed sessions are intended to protect the privacy of the individual while at the same time allowing the government access to records necessary to carry out their judicial or administrative functions.”

Contact Sanney at 615-456-6502.
ksanney@mtsu.edu

TR EXTRA

BLUE RAIDER BLASTS--MTSU is offering a chance for all alumni, friends and fans to preview the 2007-08 athletic season at Blue Raider Blasts. Director of Athletics Chris Massaro and MT head coaches Rick Stockstill (football), Kermit Davis (men’s basketball), Rick Insell (women’s basketball), Steve Peterson (baseball) and MTSU student-athletes will be on hand to meet and greet Blue Raider fans Thursday, Aug. 9, on the Cannon County Courthouse Square in Woodbury; and Thursday, Aug. 23, on the historic Rutherford County Courthouse Square in Murfreesboro. Admission is free to all blasts, which will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. and will feature inflatables, face painting, giveaways, and food. Call 1-800-533-MTSU (6878) or visit www.mtalumni.com for details.

RECORDING REDUX--It’s not too late to enroll your child in the Youth Culture and Arts Center’s (YCAC) recording workshops at MTSU. The current enrollment period is in effect through Aug. 10 for the upcoming Aug.16-Sept. 9 workshop in MTSU’s John Bragg Mass Communication Building. The workshop is for youngsters ages 12-17, and the fee is $125 per student. Classes are taught by Ryan York, a 21-year-old MTSU student and teacher of guitar, bass, and drums lessons at Chambers Guitars and Musical Instruments in Murfreesboro. Ryan will provide instruction in cassette four-track instruction, digital eight-track, computer recording and electronic music. All proceeds will benefit YCAC, a program of Youth Empowerment Through Arts and Humanities (YEAH), a nonprofit organization. Call 615-849-7140 or contact York at bororecording@gmail.com.