Each year, USC programs and faculty research are highlighted in print, broadcast and online stories throughout the world. Highlights of recent news coverage are compiled by USC Media Relations.
USC in the News 4/6/2012
Featured Stories
The Washington Post ran an op-ed by Diane Winston of the USC Annenberg School and a University of Akron colleague, about their new research finding a large gap in understanding between reporters and news consumers on the issue of religion. Two-thirds of the public believed that news media sensationalizes religion, a view shared by less than one-third of reporters. A majority of reporters and consumers said the media does a poor job of explaining religion in society. Few reporters claimed to be knowledgeable about religion. Winston and colleague noted that at a time when newspapers are cutting resources, reporters with topical expertise are often considered too expensive to keep. "Those who remain don't have the time to master the basics of beats like science, medicine, economics or religion, which require more than routine familiarity," they wrote. The research was also covered by Orlando Sentinel, Poynter, KPCC-FM, Romenesko and NPR Kent, Ohio, affiliate WKSU-FM.
Bloomberg Businessweek included the USC Marshall School in its list Best Undergraduate Business Schools 2012. The ranking was also mentioned by two more Bloomberg Businessweek stories (second link here) and the Santa Maria Times.
Wired featured work by Daniel Lidar of the USC Viterbi School and Zhihui Wang of the USC Dornsife College, on a quantum computer built using subatomic flaws in a diamond. It uses microwave pulses to reduce "decoherence," noise that prevents the computer from functioning properly. The team used the pulses to continually switch the direction of an electron's spin rotation. RedOrbit noted that for quantum computing in a diamond to become more widely used in computing, the computer must be scaled up. "Our work is an in-principle demonstration of the potential of quantum computing in diamond," Lidar said. The research was also featured by NTVMSNBC (Turkey).
Reuters featured a study co-authored by Nancy Staudt of the USC Gould School, finding that the odds are against corporations whose disputes with the IRS make it to the U.S. Supreme Court. The IRS prevailed six times out of 10 when it argued that corporations abused the tax code. It won 68 percent of cases in which it argued that corporations misread the tax code. "Judicial decision-making in this area of the law is erratic and unpredictable," the study stated. The study noted that corporations have the upper hand in cases involving a third party or complex transactions with multiple financial steps.
ABC News Los Angeles affiliate KABC-TV featured the USC Shoah Foundation Institute for Visual History and Education's work collecting testimony from survivors of the Armenian genocide. The project is a collaboration between the Shoah Foundation Institute and the USC Institute of Armenian Studies' Leadership Council. "It means that their voice, which was supposed to have been extinguished, is going to find its place in the world," said Stephen Smith, executive director of the Shoah Foundation Institute.
The Huffington Post ran a story from the Daily Trojan written by USC student Jasmine Ako, on the number of students who transfer from community colleges to USC. Of the 2011 transfer class, 59 percent came from California community colleges. In 2009, 905 Santa Monica College students applied to USC, and 329 were admitted. The story also mentioned the USC Dornsife/Los Angeles Times Poll finding that California voters largely support Gov. Jerry Brown's tax hike proposal.
Jewish Journal featured an exhibit of Jewish home movies created by The Labyrinth Project, an art collective directed Marsha Kinder of the USC School of Cinematic Arts. Kinder sought out home movies from different walks of life, and found many that highlighted the Jewish experience in unique ways. "The idea that you participate in making history, and that history is an ongoing process, that's what we really hope to emphasize," Kinder said. The story highlighted one of her previous projects, "Danube Exodus," which used amateur footage shot by a captain who ferried Jewish refugees down the Danube in the 1930s.
Experts Quoted
MSNBC interviewed Sean Nordt of the Keck School of USC about the toxicology report in singer Whitney Houston's death.
KPCC-FM interviewed Alec Levenson of the USC Marshall School about the benefits of telecommuting.
The Orange County Register quoted David Carter of the USC Marshall School about the impact Los Angeles Dodgers merchandise can have on the team's image.
News at a Glance
Los Angeles Times highlighted a screening of "Double Tide," a film by Sharon Lockhart of the USC Roski School. L.A. Weekly also mentioned the screening.
Los Angeles Times mentioned that Figment, a literary site for teens, will receive the Innovator's Award at this year's Los Angeles Times Book Prizes, presented during the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books at USC.
The Economist cited "Rez Life," a memoir by David Treuer of the USC Dornsife College, about Native American life.
KCET-TV noted that images for a story were provided by the USC Libraries and by L.A. as Subject, a research collective hosted by the USC Libraries.
The Rafu Shimpo mentioned that USC will award honorary degrees to Nisei students interned by the U.S. government during World War II.