USC Media and Public Relations

Featured Stories

The Washington Post ran Reuters photo of a panel at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books at USC. Publishers Weekly featured the event, stating: "The festival's move to USC has engaged a new and more diverse segment of Los Angeles that lives closer to the event. A noticeable increase in different ethnicities and families with children made exhibitors happy, particularly in the children's area of the festival where the YA and Target stages provided an ongoing roster of performers and authors." The Huffington Post noted that the festival featured celebrated authors like Judy Blume, John Green, Lev Grossman and Anne Rice, as well as public figures including Rodney King, Betty White, Florence Henderson and Julie Andrews. The Saginaw News highlighted a ceremony at the festival during which the U.S. Postal Service unveiled stamps depicting 20th century American poets. LAist and L.A. Observed also mentioned the festival.

The New York Times highlighted research by Veronica Terriquez and Vanessa Carter of the USC Dornsife College assessing the needs of the neighborhood around Second Baptist Church in South Los Angeles.

USA Today featured a study by Dowell Myers of the USC Price School and John Pitkin of USC's Population Dynamics Research Group finding that California's population will grow at a much slower rate than previously predicted. This could be a boon to state coffers, the story noted. "This is surely good news for local governments and taxpayers who are struggling to keep up with the costs of growth," Myers said. "This is more manageable growth and that's good news for California," he told Los Angeles Times. The study was covered by a second Los Angeles Times story, a third Los Angeles Times story, Reuters, KPCC-FM, The Sacramento Bee, ABC News Los Angeles affiliate KABC-TV, L.A. Observed, Long Beach Press-Telegram, City News Service and L.A. Weekly.

Los Angeles Times ran an op-ed by Manuel Pastor of the USC Dornsife College and a colleague about the lessons learned during the 1992 L.A. riots. Pastor wrote that a grassroots movement, a comprehensive policy package and time are all needed to affect social change. "The hurly burly of politics matters in setting broad policy, but steadfast activism, the kind of movement-building that bridges differences, is necessary to forge a new economy and a society that works for all," he wrote.

Daily Breeze reported that the USC School of Theatre will change its name to the School of Dramatic Arts, effective July 1. "Theater is and will continue to be our foundation, but we are continually adjusting to the changing nature of the art form," said School of Theatre Dean Madeline Puzo.

KNX-AM featured research by Adam Rose of the USC Price School studying the potential psychological effects of a dirty bomb exploding in downtown Los Angeles. The study found that such a terrorist attack could have a decade-long impact and cost the city nearly $16 billion. Science Daily also featured the research.

NBC News Los Angeles affiliate KNBC-TV ran an op-ed by Sherry Bebitch Jeffe of the USC Price School about tax plans proposed by Gov. Jerry Brown and Mayor Antonio Villraigosa. Jeffe noted that Villaraigosa's plan has a number of hurdles to clear in the near future, and will face competition from Gov. Brown, who worries that too many tax plans on the ballot will bring down all the proposals. "It remains to be seen whether Mayor Villaraigosa's persistence in pushing his transportation goals will run headlong into Governor Brown's persistence in pursuing his budget goals," Jeffe wrote.

Phoenix Television (China) broadcast a segment on "Assignment: China," a documentary by the USC U.S.-China Institute. The documentary focuses on then President Richard Nixon's diplomatic visit to China and the press corps that covered the event. The story interviewed Mike Chinoy of the institute, who produced the film. Phoenix reported that more than 50 million people watched one of the broadcasts.

PBS News Wilmington, Del., affiliate WHYY-TV reported that more than 50,000 Holocaust survivor testimonies have been made publicly accessible by the USC Shoah Foundation Institute for Visual History and Education. The collection is now available to the public through the University of Pennsylvania.

Scientific American ran an article by USC student Dawnielle Tellez about the USC Dornsife College's Guam and Palau Program. Enrolled students participate in two linked courses on scientific diving and Micronesian ecosystem management, and visit the USC Wrigley Marine Science Center on Catalina Island to practice diving and attend lectures. Scientific American also ran a story on the program by USC student Stephen Holle.