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 5/1/2012
Featured Stories
The Hindu (India) featured Leslie Saxon of the Keck School of USC and the USC Center for Body Computing. Saxon recently launched a site called www.everybeat.org, designed to record heart rates around the world. People can log their heart rate data into the site using a mobile phone and a sensor. By monitoring the patterns that emerge, Saxon and her team can predict strokes and diagnose other ailments. "We have discovered that if you open up continuous health data to the network, people live longer," Saxon said. "We are creating a platform that will be accessible to anyone around the world."
Variety featured an in-flight "film festival" developed by USC Annenberg School graduate students and Universal Pictures for the studio's 100th anniversary. Matthew Le Veque of the Annenberg School was approached to have his class develop the event. Jerry Swerling of the Annenberg School said working on the campaign "is a perfect example of the real world opportunities we seek for our USC Annenberg students." "The partnership with USC was a great way for us to create an initiative that was authentic and appealed to our fans," said Rick Finkelstein, Universal Pictures vice chairman and CEO.
La Stampa (Italy) featured a study by Travis Longcore of the USC Dornsife College and colleagues finding that 6.8 million birds are killed each year by collisions with radio towers. The research was also covered by Indo-Asian News Service, Fars News Agency (Iran), El Mercurio (Chile), Canadian Online Explorer (Canada), Magyar Tavirati Iroda (Hungary), Veja (Brazil), GlobalPost and TG Daily.
KPCC-FM highlighted 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. The research was also highlighted by NBC News San Diego affiliate KNSD-TV, North County Times and Fox & Hounds Daily.
Forbes reported that Richard Lemarchand of game developer Naughty Dog will be joining the USC School of Cinematic Arts' Interactive Media Division. Lemarchand, a lead designer on the "Uncharted" game series, will work on experimental games as part of a research project at USC. The story noted that the hit game "Journey" was designed by USC alumni Jenova Chen and Kellee Santiago, founders of thatgamecompany. The news was also covered by VentureBeat, IGN, VG24/7, G4 and The Verge.
The Christian Science Monitor reported that the National Endowment for the Arts has awarded a grant to "Walden," an online video game based on the writings of Henry David Thoreau, developed at the USC School of Cinematic Arts' Electronic Arts Game Innovation Lab. "It would be great if everyone could take some time to conduct an experiment like Thoreau's, but that isn't likely for most of us," said Tracey Fullerton of the School of Cinematic Arts.
L.A. Observed featured a video and blog post by Clifford Johnson of the USC Dornsife College about the new Expo Line. Johnson wrote that the light-rail line is "part of a major transformation for the city. … Stepping off the train today at the Expo Park/USC stop was just magical."
L.A. Weekly covered the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books at USC, highlighting the notable figures who participated. The Rafu Shimpo noted that more than 100,000 people attended the event. The story noted that exhibitors included Kaya Press, a publisher now housed at the USC Dornsife College that specializes in stories from the Asian diaspora.
GalleyCat profiled David St. John of the USC Dornsife College, a National Book Award finalist who recently released a new poetry collection titled "The Auroras." St. John offered advice to young poets: "Write for yourself at all times. If you ever write for some imagined editor somewhere, well, you might as well pack your bags."
Experts Quoted
The New York Times quoted Martin Kaplan of the USC Annenberg School about the success of TV and radio host Ryan Seacrest.
The New York Times quoted Todd Boyd of the USC School of Cinematic Arts about the 1992 civil unrest in Los Angeles.
The Wall Street Journal quoted Thomas McWhorter, USC dean of financial aid, about the university's online financial aid calculator.
The Washington Post quoted Gary Painter of the USC Lusk Center for Real Estate about the economy and slow housing growth.
Inside Higher Ed cited an essay by Steven Anderson and Tara McPherson of the USC School of Cinematic Arts about the acceptance of digital work in faculty evaluations.
Los Angeles Times quoted Richard Green of the USC Lusk Center for Real Estate about the United States home ownership rate.
PBS News New York affiliate WNET-TV's "Moyers & Company" interviewed Martin Kaplan of the USC Annenberg School about the intersection of money, media and politics. Moyers & Company ran a second piece with Kaplan.
Jakarta Globe (Indonesia) quoted Johanna Blakely of the USC Annenberg School about copyright in the fashion industry.
The National (United Arab Emirates) quoted Muhammad Sahimi of the USC Viterbi School about recent negotiations between the U.S. and Iran over the latter's uranium enrichment program.
KPCC-FM's "Patt Morrison" interviewed Edward Kleinbard of the USC Gould School about Apple's use of tax shelters.
The Plain Dealer quoted Greg Phillips of the USC Viterbi School about a new computer analysis of the 2010 plane crash that killed Poland's president.
The Detroit News quoted Todd Boyd of the USC School of Cinematic Arts about the film "Think Like a Man."
ABC News Fort Myers, Fla., affiliate WZVN-TV interviewed Melvin Silverstein of the Keck School of USC on how mammography can fight cancer.
NBC News Los Angeles affiliate KNBC-TV interviewed Naj Meshkati of the USC Viterbi School about the new Expo Line.
News at a Glance
Los Angeles Times reported that the Los Angeles Master Chorale performed two classical pieces composed by Cristian Grases of the USC Thornton School.
The Record stated that USC saw a sharp rise in applications this year, with the admission rate dropping to a record low of 18 percent.
International Business Times cited USC research finding that exposure to air pollution can hinder lung development and limit breathing capacity.
Houston Chronicle highlighted research by Joseph Miller of the Keck School of USC and colleagues, asserting that the Viking Lander discovered life on Mars in 1976.
Scientific American ran a column by Robert English and Jim Haw of the USC Dornsife College about the school's Guam and Palau Program.
The Huffington Post ran a column by Nake Kamrany of the USC Dornsife College and USC student Jessica Greenhalgh about challenges in the U.S. health care industry.
United Press International reported on enhanced security measures at USC after the deaths of two students.
ABC News Los Angeles affiliate KABC-TV noted that the new Expo Line stops at USC. KPCC-FM reported that the USC Trojan Marching Band played at the opening ceremony for the line.
Macworld reported that Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak recently visited USC to speak to students.
Visalia Times-Delta mentioned that Tulare Regional Medical Center is affiliated with the Keck School of USC's Department of Urology.
Journal & Courier noted that the Alfred E. Mann Institute for Biomedical Engineering at USC was founded in 1998.
/Film highlighted a free screening of the movie "Sleepless Night" hosted by the USC School of Cinematic Arts and Tribeca Film.