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 9/27/2012
The Hollywood Reporter covered the USC Schwarzenegger Institute for State and Global Policy’s inaugural symposium, attended by former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. The third panel of the day focused on innovation and featured entertainment industry leaders. “The power of films and TV is enormous. I think its much more powerful than politicians can ever be in terms of promoting ideas,” Schwarzenegger said. The event was also covered by Access Hollywood, Inside Edition, two stories in The Huffington Post (second link here), HLN and CBS News Santa Maria, Calif., affiliate KCOY-TV.
Bloomberg Businessweek highlighted the winery and resort operated by Qingyun Ma, dean of the USC School of Architecture. Ma’s winery, in his hometown of Xi’an, China, is adding brick buildings inspired by those from nearby villages. Many Chinese vineyards include hyperreal, European-looking buildings instead, Ma said. “I almost don’t care about how good the wine is. As soon as I see a fake French château, I think there’s something wrong,” he added. Ma has started a wine-themed feed on the popular Chinese social network Sina Weibo, and also runs a consultancy about the business.
Forbes ran an op-ed by Robert Bridges of the USC Marshall School about federal housing policy. Bridges wrote that the government is artificially boosting housing demand without a sufficient supply of new housing entering the market. As a result, a new generation of homebuyers won’t be able to afford what’s on the market. “For those who are not yet homeowners, how is it populism when recovery makes houses more expensive rather than more affordable?” Bridges wrote.
L.A. Weekly reported that Jan Amend of the USC Dornsife College and colleagues have been selected by NASA’s Astrobiology Institute to research subsurface life forms. The goal is to help detect subsurface life forms on Mars and other planets in the future. “We don’t know what organisms are living in the subsurface, how far down the biosphere extends or how active the community is that’s down there. At this point our research is very exploratory,” Amend said.
The Orange County Register highlighted research by David Caron of the USC Dornsife College on how algae respond to nutrients along the Californian coast. This work could help scientists understand the cause of harmful algae blooms, the story reported. “There’s no reason to assume that harmful algae dominate the system, and every reason to monitor it,” Caron said.
Associated Press quoted Valerie Folkes of the USC Marshall School about M Channel, a TV channel broadcast in McDonald’s restaurants.
The Huffington Post interviewed Clayton Dube of the USC U.S.-China Institute about valuable minerals discovered by Japan, and what they could mean for diplomatic relations with China.
U-T San Diego quoted James Fawcett of the USC Dornsife College about ports taking trade missions to encourage investment.
NPR News’ “All Things Considered” interviewed Josh Kun of the USC Annenberg School about the appeal of late singer Andy Williams.
American Public Media’s “Marketplace” interviewed Alec Levenson of the USC Marshall School about tips for millennials preparing for the job market.
KPCC-FM’s “Off-Ramp” quoted Annalisa Enrile of the USC School of Social Work about Filipina women who meet American men through dating sites.
Truthdig ran a column by Richard Reeves of the USC Annenberg School about conflict between America’s ambitions to be loved and respected by the world.