Story Ideas for Media 3/28/11
News
Kiplinger Program launches first social media fellowship for journalists. Twenty-four journalists from newsrooms around the world will arrive on campus Wednesday (3/30) to take part in the Kiplinger Program in Public Affairs Journalism in the John Glenn School of Public Affair's first social media fellowship program. The 2011 class includes reporters from CNN, Washington Post, Kyiv Post, 60 Minutes, NPR, and others. The journalists will spend their time in the John Glenn School of Public Affairs exploring how to leverage Facebook, tweet strategically and tell better visual stories. SEE: http://www.kiplingerprogram.org
Ohio State receives $2.6 million grant for unique research in Africa's threatened Sahel region. The National Science Foundation has awarded Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agriculture and Environmental Sciences $2.6 million grant to study the unique interactions between shrubs and crops as a basis for developing sustainable agricultural practices in the ecologically fragile Sahel region of Africa.
The five-year project will focus on microbial ecology and hydrology of shrub-crop ecosystems within the Sahel -- a long, narrow strip of land located just south of the Sahara Desert and spanning West Africa from the Atlantic Ocean to Sudan. This agriculturally dependent region is threatened with desertification and soil degradation that reduce crop productivity and negatively impact local communities. CONTACT: Mauricio Espinoza, espinoza.15@osu.edu,(330) 202-3550. SEE: http://go.osu.edu/sahel
Research
A dose of safflower oil each day might held keep heart disease at bay. A daily dose of safflower oil, a common cooking oil, for 16 weeks can improve such health measures as good cholesterol, blood sugar, insulin sensitivity and inflammation in obese postmenopausal women who have Type 2 diabetes. Martha Belury, professor of human nutrition, is the lead author of the study.
The finding comes about 18 months after the same researchers discovered that safflower oil reduced abdominal fat and increased muscle tissue in this group of women after 16 weeks of daily supplementation. This combination of health measures that are improved by the safflower oil is associated with metabolic syndrome, a cluster of symptoms that can increase risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
These new findings have led the chief researcher to suggest that a daily dose of safflower oil in the diet – about 1 2/3 teaspoons – is a safe way to help reduce cardiovascular disease risk. CONTACT: Emily Caldwell, (614) 292-8310; SEE: http://researchnews.osu.edu/archive/saffoil.htm
Events
First anniversary celebration of Ohio Union is Tuesday – March 29. The Ohio Union is will celebrate the first anniversary of its official opening on Tuesday (3/29). Noon marks the official anniversary of when the Ohio Union opened its doors. Media are invited to cover any of the events, which include:
*11:30 a.m. Ohio Union 1st Anniversary Countdown (Great Hall, First Floor Ohio Union) The countdown begins with music at 11:30 and culminates with a balloon drop at noon.
*1 p.m. Stained Glass Unveiling and Dedication (Ohio Union Stained Glass Lounge, Second Floor) A custom stained-glass piece featuring the faces of Ohio State students, faculty, and staff will be installed in the Stained Glass Lounge. The piece was created using innovative technology by the Department of Art.
*4:15 p.m. Group Hug of the Ohio Union (Various locations) Members of the university community will show how much they love the Ohio Union as they literally “Hug” the Ohio Union. A complete list of events is available at http://go.osu.edu/unionbirthday
High School students tell their stories about bullying through play hosted by College of Social Work – April 1. Studies show that thirty percent of all U.S. students grades 6 through 10 are either bullies, victims, or both. On Friday (4/l), high school students from the Arts & Preparatory Academy in Columbus will present a human rights play, The Equality Project, at the College of Social Work. This award-winning diversity play about bullying and equality will be held from 10–11:30 a.m. at 100 Stillman Hall, 1947 College Rd. An afternoon workshop on creating individualized Equity Projects will follow the play from 1 – 4 p.m. SEE: http://csw.osu.edu/alumni/events/equality and http://csw.osu.edu/trainingforprofessionals/trainingcalendar/index.cfm. CONTACT: Frankie Jones-Harris, (614) 292-3540 or (614) 330-2206.
What does poverty look like in America – and even closer to home – what does it look like in Cincinnati? – March 31. Keith Kilty, Ohio State University professor emeritus of social work, puts a human face on poverty in his eye-opening debut documentary, Ain’t I A Person *with Apologies to Sojourner Truth. As the director, Kilty examines issues ranging from “What is poverty?” to “What it means to be poor” and dispels many of the myths and stereotypes associated with it. A premiere of the film will be held at 7 p.m. on Thursday (3/31) in the US Bank Theatre at the Ohio Union, 1739 N. High St. A discussion led by Kilty will follow. The premiere is free and open to the public including all OSU and social work alumni, students, faculty, and friends. A non-perishable food donation is requested for the Mid-Ohio Food Bank. For more information or to interview Kilty, CONTACT: Frankie Jones-Harris, (614) 292-3540 or (614) 330-2206.
The person listed as the CONTACT will have the most current information about the story. Call on our media relations staff for help with any Ohio State story: Liz Cook, (614) 292-7276 or cook.17@osu.edu; Shelly Hoffman, (614) 247-4748 or hoffman.511@osu.edu; Jim Lynch, (614) 247-4110 or lynch.270@osu.edu; or Amy Murray, (614) 292-8385 or murray-goedde.1@osu.edu
