USC Media and Public Relations

The New York Times ran an op-ed by Richard Easterlin of the USC Dornsife College about social stability and economic growth in China. Easterlin — who is known for the “Easterlin paradox,” the finding that happiness doesn’t necessarily increase along with a country’s average income — pointed to the recent Foxconn riots as evidence that economic success isn’t always as important as having a strong social safety net or a good job. Easterlin’s research found that from 1990 to 2011, quality of life increased in China, but life satisfaction may actually have dropped. “The burden of decreasing satisfaction has fallen hardest on the bottom third of the population in wealth. Satisfaction among Chinese in even the upper third has risen only moderately,” Easterlin wrote.

Los Angeles Times featured the USC Dornsife/Los Angeles Times Poll finding that support for Proposition 30 has dropped to 55 percent, from 59 percent in May. Democrats still largely favor the proposition, which would raise taxes on high earners for seven years and boost the state sales tax by a quarter-cent for four years. A strong opposition campaign could sink the measure, but Dan Schnur of the USC Dornsife College said that the “biggest question now is whether the opposition will have the money to get their argument heard.” Additional Los Angeles Times stories reported that voters approve of Gov. Jerry Brown’s reforms to the state pension system, and a majority favor an initiative requiring special labeling for genetically modified foods. The poll was covered by another Los Angeles Times story and CBS News.

Fox News covered USC’s admissions for 2012, reporting that Latinos make up the largest group of minority students enrolled for the fall semester. Of 46,000 applicants, 3,021 were admitted, of whom 21 percent were minorities. In 2011, 19 percent of incoming students were minorities. USC Dean of Admissions Timothy Brunold said that 14 percent of this year’s freshmen are the first in their families to go to college. Hispanically Speaking stated that USC admits students regardless of their ability to pay for college, and that two out of three undergraduates receive some sort of financial aid.

Jewish Journal covered the USC Schwarzenegger Institute for State and Global Policy’s inaugural symposium, attended by former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. The story noted that Schwarzenegger hopes to support bipartisan solutions to civic problems through the institute. “Political courage is not political suicide,” Schwarzenegger said. Sky News (U.K.) also mentioned the event.

The Wall Street Journal quoted Drew Casper of the USC School of Cinematic Arts about the biblical film epics of the 1960s.

The Washington Post quoted Dmitri Williams of the USC Annenberg School about the detailed information available in virtual economies.

U.S. News & World Report quoted Henry Jenkins of the USC Annenberg School about a Harry Potter fan network called The Harry Potter Alliance.

Salon quoted Mingyi Hung of the USC Marshall School about the link between China’s corporate and political sectors.

Reason quoted Dowell Myers of the USC Price School about the rate of Californians leaving the state.

The Christian Science Monitor quoted David Carter of the USC Marshall School about the NFL’s replacement referees.

Bloomberg Businessweek quoted Philip Seib of the USC Annenberg School, author of “The Al Jazeera Effect,” about the channel’s growth and spending.

MSNBC mentioned that Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi is a USC alumnus. The Daily Beast also ran a story.

The Huffington Post mentioned research conducted by the USC Marshall School’s Center for Effective Organizations on employee behavior.

South Florida Sun-Sentinel cited a USC Rossier School study examining education in 12 countries, which found that the United States spends the most per student.

KPCC-FM mentioned that USC is now in Los Angeles’ 9th District.