News, information and research from Boston University
July 21, 2009 at 11:20 am
With investigative reporting increasingly relying on not-for-profit help, the BU-based New England Center for Investigative Reporting (NECIR) already is helping nurture future investigative reporters. Some 22 Massachusetts high school students are attending an intensive workshop this week under the guidance of program director Joe Bergantino.
Contact Joe Bergantino, 617-353-4546, jbergant@bu.edu
July 21, 2009 at 9:43 am
With the Boston Globe's largest union finally okaying a contract with $10 million in concessions, all eyes are on its owner, The New York Times, to see if it will sell New England's largest newspaper. Professor Lou Ureneck, the BU Journalism Department chair and an authority on the business of newspapers, can offer some informed speculation.
Contact Lou Ureneck, 617-353-4095, lureneck@bu.edu
July 20, 2009 at 12:42 pm
New York's attorney general plans to sue Charles Schwab, the largest online brokerage firm, for civil fraud for its marketing and selling of auctions-rate securities. These short-term debt instruments whose prices are reset in periodic auctions caused billions in investor losses when the market collapsed last year. School of Law Professor Tamar Frankel says ignorance of the risk involved with what they were selling would be no excuse for Schwab sales reps.
"When a promised diamond turns out to be glass, even the unknowing salesperson is liable."
Contact Tamar Frankel, 617-353-3773, tfrankel@bu.edu
July 20, 2009 at 10:38 am
Embedded video from CNN Video
July 20, 2009 at 9:49 am
Trade schools specializing in everything from the cosmetology to radiologics are finding their enrollment growing during the economic downturn. Enrollees, schools are discovering, are nearly twice the age of the typical enrolled student; schools believe they are professionals looking for a career change. Dean Jay Halfond, of BU's Metropolitan College, can discuss these recent surges at trade schools and can be reached at 617-353-3010 or jhalfond@bu.edu.
July 20, 2009 at 9:39 am
With both houses and both parties in congess fighting over the details, President Obama has healthcare reform atop his agenda this week, including a prime-time news conference Wednesday. School of Management Professor Alan Cohen, executive director of the Health Policy Institute, can sort through the details.
Contact Alan Cohen, 617-353-9222, abcohen@bu.edu
July 17, 2009 at 10:45 am
The Boston Globe's largest union, the Boston Newspaper Guild, votes Monday on the latest contract proposal from the parent company New York Times, with a total of $10 million in savings on the line. Pulitzer-winning College of Communication Dean Tom Fiedler, a former Miami Herald executive editor, can discuss what's at stake.
Contact Tom Fiedler, 617-353-3488, tfiedler@bu.edu
July 17, 2009 at 10:25 am
With Republicans saying they won't block approval, the Senate Judiciary Committee meets Tuesday to consider the nomination of Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court. A full-Senate vote expected by August 7. Constitutional law Professor Jay Wexler, who clerked for Ruth Bader Ginsberg, can look back at Sotomayor's week of testimony and ahead to the high court's future.
Contact Jay Wexler, 617-353-3174, jaywex@bu.edu
July 17, 2009 at 10:02 am
With sales slumping at Starbucks locations across the country, the chain is looking for new ways to bring loyal customers back in the afternoon hours. Starting with a flagship afternoon shop called "15th Ave. Coffee and Tea inspired by Starbucks" in the 15th Avenue neighborhood of Seattle, Starbucks will be introducing beer and wine (dine-in only) to the menu. Will their experiment work? School of Hospitality Assistant Professor Brad Hudson can offer his predictions for the future of Starbucks and whether their new after-hours idea will work. Hudson can be reached at bhudson@bu.edu.
July 16, 2009 at 11:43 am
Bailed out Bank of American reportedly is under a secret regulatory sanction -- a memorandum of understanding -- to overhaul its board and address risk and liquidity problems. Six of its 16 directors have resigned since the sanction was imposed. School of Management Professor James Post, an authority on corporate governance, says BofA should have made the moves before regulators forced them.
Contact James Post, 617-353-4162, jepost@bu.edu
