Friday, October 3, 2008

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

Would you buy a used economy from this land?

In these seemingly chaotic economic times, how can marketers convince nervous consumers to buy anything? One tactic is to link a product or service with a charitable or nonprofit cause by offering to make donations to that worthy cause contingent on sales. Dr. Don Roy, management and marketing, not only does it give the consumer a chance to put her morals where her money is, but “… nonprofits often are squeezed in a down economy as private donations and governmental support decline. Their partnerships with for-profit firms provide needed resources and provide a platform to keep the cause in consumers’ minds. The questions to ask pertaining to the role of cause marketing are ‘What cause should I align my brand with that will resonate with consumers?’ and ‘How can we use the resources of our company to make a positive impact with our cause partner?’”

Contact Roy at 615-904-8564.
droy@mtsu.edu

Having wonderful time--wish you were in court.

Legislation is pending in Congress to prevent what is termed “libel tourism.” Several authors feel they have been victimized by this forum shopping in which people head overseas to sue Americans for libel in foreign courts, where the standard of proof is less strict. Dr. John Omachonu, associate dean of the MTSU College of Mass Communication, says this is not fair. “We had all been taught to respect the term ‘jurisdiction’—which means that a case is filed or should be filed in the court that has the appropriate legal authority over the issue in question,” Omachonu says. (In 1964, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in New York Times Co. v. Sullivan the plaintiff must prove the publisher knew the information was false or acted with reckless disregard for the truth.)

Contact Omachonu at 615-898-2695.
omachonu@mtsu.edu

Getting virtual to get votes

The power and influence of the Internet constitutes the biggest change in media coverage of politics these days, said Beverly Keel, director of the John Seigenthaler Chair of Excellence in First Amendment Studies, at a recent lecture. “The Internet allows candidates to bypass the media and speak directly to voters,” Keel said. “Campaigns now have total control over what’s said, when it’s released, what the video photos look like. They don’t have to worry about answering any annoying questions from the press.” On the other hand, the Internet sometimes gets out in front of the candidates. For example, blogging about the pregnancy of Bristol Palin and speculation about the parentage of four-month-old Trig Palin prompted Sarah Palin’s campaign to release a statement. Also, it was a San Francisco blogger, not a mainstream reporter, who broke the news of Barack Obama’s now-infamous “bitter” remark.

Contact Keel at 615-898-5150.
bkeel@mtsu.edu

TR EXTRA

GENTLEMEN, START YOUR RHETORIC.--The official timekeeper and line producer for all of the 2008 presidential and vice presidential debates, Paul H. Byers, will be the next guest speaker in the continuing fall lecture series, “Politics and the Press: The Relationship Between Government and the Fourth Estate,” presented by the University Honors College at MTSU. Byers will talk at 3 p.m. Monday, Oct. 6, in Room 106 of the Paul W. Martin Sr. Honors Building. Byers is director of the Center for Ethical Concerns at Marymount University in Arlington, Va., where he has taught in the Communications Department since 1988. His journalism experience includes nine years with Post-Newsweek Stations, 11 years with CBS News and two years at NBC News. He also has worked for Congressional Quarterly, WAMU-FM in Washington, D.C., and The Eastern Educational Radio Network, the forerunner of National Public Radio. For more information, contact the University Honors College at 615-898-2152.

THE HORRORS AT HOME--The June Anderson Women’s Center (JAWC) at MTSU will augment its constant concern for the health and safety of women and girls in October with observances of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Janine Latus, author of If I Am Missing or Dead—A Sister’s Story of Love, Murder and Liberation, will be the keynote speaker for Domestic Violence Awareness Month activities. Latus will deliver her address at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 7, in Tom H. Jackson Hall with a reception and book signing to follow. If I Am Missing or Dead chronicles Latus’ courage in breaking out of a repressive marriage only to learn that her younger sister, Amy, had been murdered by her boyfriend. Contact the JAWC at 615-898-2193 or jawc@mtsu.edu. This event is free and open to the public.

AND NOW, THE STAR OF OUR SHOW…--Dr. Charles Higgins, physics and astronomy, will preside over the next First Friday Star Party at 6:30 p.m., tonight, Oct. 3, in Room 102 of the Wiser-Patten Science Building. Higgins will deliver a lecture on “Binary Stars” followed by outdoor telescope observation if the weather permits. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Higgins at 615-898-5946.

HABLAMOS ESPANOL--MTSU’s celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month is in full swing through Oct. 15 with numerous cultural and informational events on tap. On Monday, Oct. 6, Sidelines, the student newspaper, will feature a crossword puzzle with a Hispanic history theme. Prizes will be awarded in KUC Room 326 for the first five correct submittals. Also, ongoing Hispanic Poetry Periods and Latin music experiences will be conducted near the KUC Knoll, and special programming will be shown in dormitory lobbies. WMOT-FM (89.5) will air Latin jazz every Sunday. All events are free and open to the public. For additional information, contact the Office of Intercultural and Diversity Affairs at 615-898-5812.

NO NEED FOR THE TIM RUSSERT MEMORIAL DRY ERASE BOARD (FLORIDA! FLORIDA! FLORIDA!)—MTSU students will prepare and broadcast their own election night roundup live on MTTV, Channel 10, from 8 p.m. to 11 or possibly later, on Election Night, Tuesday, Nov. 4, depending on how close the tallies are. “It becomes more than just an organizational exercise, which is important,” says Dr. Bob Pondillo, who teaches “Electronic Media Production: Election Night News Coverage.” “However, it’s one thing to know how to make great television, but it’s quite another to know how to engage the community.” Although arrangements are subject to revision at a moment’s notice depending on the circumstances, the class is planning on three bases for live shots. The percentages in each race will be displayed at the bottom of the television screen through a black box Associated Press interface device. Contact Pondillo at 615-904-8465 or pondillo@mtsu.edu.

THE PAST IS JUST A MOUSE-CLICK AWAY.--Dr. Stacey Graham, research professor at MTSU’s Center for Historic Preservation, will talk about a grant of $300,000 to the center from the Library of Congress at 7 a.m. this Sunday, Oct. 5, on “MTSU on the Record.” The 30-minute public affairs program, hosted by Gina Logue, airs each Sunday morning on WMOT-FM (89.5 and wmot.org). The funding will be used to give educators access to primary sources to bolster their teaching of history. Primary sources are original records from individuals or groups who were involved in or on-the-scene observers of actual events. Some of the primary sources available through the Library of Congress include the complete papers of Abraham Lincoln, the complete papers of Thomas Jefferson and the Continental Congress Broadside Collection, which contains material pertaining to the work of Congress from 1774 to 1788. For more information, contact Logue at 615-898-5081 or WMOT-FM at 615-898-2800. If you missed last week’s show, go to http://frank.mtsu.edu/~proffice/podcast2008.html and click on “September 28, 2008.”

IT’S A CORKER!--U.S. Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN) is scheduled to speak to three MTSU engineering technology classes (solar design, construction management and introduction to environmental science) from 2:30-4 p.m. today, Oct. 3, in Room 121 of Cason-Kennedy Nursing Building. Corker is expected to discuss U.S. energy initiatives and gain “a sense of what our campus does in green energy and alternative energy,” says Dr. Kathy Mathis, associate professor of engineering technology. Corker will be given a portfolio of student and faculty involvement and then be taken outside, where he will be shown a BioBus and bio-golf cart, solar bike and Dr. Cliff Ricketts’ alternative fuel vehicles. For more information, contact Mathis or Dr. Walter Boles at 615-898-2776.