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EXPERT ALERTS
- Victims Too Often Abused Again During Criminal Trials
- Decision May Help Curb Debt Collector Suits
- Getting Kids 'Tuned up' to Return to School
- Panhandling Bans Force Free-Speech Fights
- PTSD Requires Professional Help
- Market Blogger - NYC
- News Editor - NYC
- Multimedia Editor - NYC
- Copy Editor - Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
- Multimedia Journalist - Sacramento, Calif.
- Grammar Hammer: 'Mad Men' Gets Hanged or Hung?
- Reporting for Bloggers
- Dear Gracie: How to Tactfully Edit Someone's Writing
EXPERT ALERTS
Expert Alerts are listings of ProfNet members who are available to discuss timely news topics. If you are interested in interviewing any of the experts, please contact their media representative at the end of the listing. You can also find Expert Alerts online at http://bit.ly/pncalerts
Victims Too Often Abused Again During Criminal TrialsCharla AldousTrial AttorneyAldous Law Firm in DallasAldous won a $9.3 million verdict last year against the Episcopal School of Dallas (ESD) based on the school's role in the sexual abuse of a 16-year-old girl by a teacher: "As the criminal trial against former Penn State coach Jerry Sandusky gets underway, watchers should be ready to see a 'blame the victim' defense. It is unfortunate and tragic that sexual-abuse victims often are further abused by our legal system. In the ESD case, our expert talked about 'secondary victimization,' meaning a child is abused first by the predator and then a second time by 'society,' including the accused's defense team. The courage shown by Sandusky's accusers stands in stark contrast to that demonstrated by school officials. These victims are willing to stand up and tell a jury what happened. Who at Penn State could have, or should have, stood up and said something when the abuse happened?"News Contact: Alan Bentrup, [email protected] or +1-800-559-4534
Decision May Help Curb Debt-Collector SuitsBrandon StarlingDebt-Collection AttorneyShackelford Melton & McKinley in Dallas"The U.S. Supreme Court's recent decision to hear arguments on whether debt-collection agencies can collect legal fees against debtors who sue them has the potential to shift the legal landscape, and this might make law firms that file massive numbers of these fair debt-collection suits think twice. Media reports indicate that claims against debt collectors increased nationally from about 3,200 in 2006 to more than 12,000 in 2011. Many of these cases against debt collectors are filed by firms whose business models focus on filing a large volume of lawsuits, in part because if debtors win, the debt-collection firms often must pay for the plaintiff's legal fees. If the Supreme Court were to say these debt-collection firms can be awarded fees and costs in their legal defense, it might make these plaintiff firms more reasonable and easier to deal with."News Contact: Rhonda Reddick, [email protected] or +1-800-559-4534 Getting Kids 'Tuned up' to Return to SchoolDominick P. Ferello, ABD, Ed.S.ProfessorArgosy University, Tampa"Summer can be a busy time for families. Parents, with the best of intentions, try to provide experiences to keep their children academically engaged and their brains 'tuned up' for the return to school in the fall. Unfortunately, with a busy summer schedule, parents can often find themselves at a loss for how to get their children back in 'school mode' with only a short time left before the beginning of the new school year."Ferello discusses the importance of a getting kids "tuned up" and ready to return to school. He also offers ways that parents can get their children back in school mode to ensure a successful start to the new school year.News Contact: Anne K. Dean, [email protected] or +1-714-620-0910
Panhandling Bans Force Free-Speech FightsDavid FurlowAttorneyThompson & Knight in Houston"The efforts of state and local governments to curb panhandling and related activities are facing a growing number of court challenges across the nation. For example, last week, eight individuals filed a federal lawsuit against the city of Chicago, claiming that its ordinance restricting 'aggressive panhandling' violates free-speech statutes. In March, a federal judge in Utah ruled the state's panhandling ban violated First Amendment protections, while a similar Charlottesville, Va., law is facing a high-profile appellate fight. The courts continue to say that the Constitution protects your right to speak your mind, including the right to panhandle, beg and feed the poor. However, each ordinance must be evaluated on its own merits because courts have upheld laws that balance free-speech rights against societal considerations such as order, traffic safety and public health."News Contact: Barry Pound, [email protected] or +1-800-559-4534
PTSD Requires Professional HelpJoshua Taylor, PsyDAdjunct FacultyArgosy University, Orange County"Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affects more than 50 percent of all veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. The risk of exposure to trauma has always been a part of the human condition. PTSD is unique among psychiatric diagnoses because of the great importance placed upon the traumatic event. While treatable, everyone responds differently to different types of events. The most important thing is to get professional help if you suspect PTSD."Taylor is able to discuss the prevalence of PTSD in service members, specifics about the disorder and what must be done to address a soldier's mental health needs when returning from the combat arena.News Contact: Anne K. Dean, [email protected] or +1-714-620-0910
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MEDIA JOBS:
Following are links to job listings for staff and freelance writers. You can view these and more job listings on our Job Board: http://bit.ly/pncjobboard
- Market Blogger - NYC
- News Editor - NYC
- Multimedia Editor - NYC
- Copy Editor - Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
- Multimedia Journalist - Sacramento, Calif.
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OTHER NEWS & RESOURCES:
Following are links to other news and resources we think you might find useful. If you have an item you think other reporters would be interested in and would like us to include in a future alert, please drop us a line at [email protected]
- GRAMMAR HAMMER: 'MAD MEN' GETS HANGED OR HUNG?: ProfNet Editor Grace Lavigne reviews the proper usage of "hanged" vs. "hung": http://bit.ly/LJbMtt
- REPORTING FOR BLOGGERS: ProfNet Director Maria Perez recaps BlogWorld & New Media Expo's session on the ins and outs of reporting for bloggers: http://bit.ly/Ny3iWq
- DEAR GRACIE: HOW TO TACTFULLY EDIT SOMEONE'S WRITING: ProfNet Editor Grace Lavigne discusses how to effectively critique writing without being harsh: http://bit.ly/KBdWM8
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/PRNewswire -- June 13, 2012/
SOURCE ProfNet
