IMF issues warning to US on debt crisis

July 25, 2011 at 3:08 pm

The International Monetary Fund has issued a warning that the US take urgent action in raising the debt ceiling, adding that a credit downgrade could damage the global economy. Kevin Gallagher, an associate professor of international relations at Boston University, is an expert on global and economic policy. His article, “Why the US must raise its debt ceiling,” was recently published in The Guardian. He is available to comment on the warning issued by the IMF.

Contact Kevin at 617-353-9348 or kpg@bu.edu

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NFL owners, players reach agreement

July 25, 2011 at 11:22 am

The Associated Press is reporting that a collective bargaining agreement has been reached between NFL owners and players, ending the 136-day old lockout. The following Boston University professors are available to offer commentary, analysis, and insight:

Michael Harper, a professor at BU's School of Law, is a leading authority in the area of labor and employment law, and sports law. He can be reached at 617-353-4422 or mconradh@bu.edu

Frank Shorr, a senior lecturer in journalism at BU's College of Communication, is an expert in sports media and broadcasting. He can be reached at 617-353-5163 or fshorr@bu.edu


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Weekly roundup of BU expert quotes: July 18 – July 22

July 22, 2011 at 9:17 pm

Below is a sampling of quotes by Boston University experts for July 18 - July 22:

Bailout in Greece

After a deal, only more challenges (New York Times): "This is the Europeanization of the Greek debt. Everyone prefers to have Europe as their counterparty rather than Greece." Perry Mehrling, visiting professor, School of Law, and a senior fellow at the Center for Finance, Law, & Policy.

Rupert Murdoch & News Corp.

News Corp. announces new code of ethics. Will it make a difference? (Christian Science Monitor): "It will be interesting to see what kind of enforcement measures Murdoch and his staff are talking about, and how exactly they intend to put them into action." Elizabeth Mehren, Professor of Journalism, College of Communication

Rupert Murdoch testifies before Parliament (WGBH-TV "Greater Boston"): "The culture was get the story at all costs and that seemed to have just permeated to every level. It's really unfathomable that the top editor wouldn't have had at some point asked the question of how are you getting this." Tom Fiedler, Dean of the College of Communication

News Corp. board should be replaced (Bloomberg Television): "There's no question the Murdochs are key people because nothing is going to happen without their approval but beyond that I think the independent directors hold the key." James Post, Professor of Management, School of Management

Murdoch struggles for control as scandal grows (Bloomberg): "The shell of invulnerability that Rupert Murdoch had around him has cracked. His credibility and the company's credibility are hemorrhaging." James Post, Professor of Management, School of Management

Murdoch scandal coming to U.S.? (WBZ-TV): "The scandal could potentially place at risk Murdoch's ownership of TV stations in 18 U.S. cities, including Boston." Tobe Berkovitz, Associate Professor of Advertising, College of Communication

Read More »

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Pentagon set to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”

July 22, 2011 at 1:05 pm

The Pentagon is set to repeal the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. Boston University international relations professor Michael Corgan, a former U.S. Naval Academy graduate who also taught there, offers the following comment:

"I think we should be prepared for a spate of inconsequential or even frivolous stories about what happens when the policy is ended - from both opponents and advocates of the policy's termination.

"In my opinion, it will take at least a couple of years to know just what impact the new situation will have on readiness, recruitment, morale, etc. I expect there won't be much of a ripple, just some noise from expected quarters."

Contact Michael Corgan at 617-353-3553 or mcorgan@bu.edu


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Campaign manager for Jon Huntsman resigns

July 21, 2011 at 2:08 pm

The campaign manager for GOP presidential candidate Jon Huntsman has resigned. Communications director Matt David will become the new campaign manager. Boston University professor Tom Whalen, an expert in American politics, is available to comment on what this means for the Huntsman campaign.

Contact Tom at 978-888-3131 or tjw64@comcast.net


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James Post talks to Bloomberg Television on what’s next for Rupert Murdoch & leadership at News Corp.

July 20, 2011 at 11:10 am

Contact James Post at 617-353-4162, jepost@bu.edu


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The reputation of Rupert Murdoch

July 19, 2011 at 3:08 pm

Peter Morrissey is an associate professor of public relations at Boston University's College of Communication. He is also an expert in reputation management and offers the following comments on what steps Rupert Murdoch should take in regard to his PR and reputation.

"Rupert Murdoch is trying to stay above water, but I'm sure the News of the World has offended and tarred many powerful people in the past. Now it is time to pay the piper.

"Murdoch has some good PR counsel, but the facts are not with him on this one, so there may have to be a lot of public blood-letting. His apologies were good, but forced at best and a little late. Once you are caught, public apologies often ring hollow.

"He needs an independent person or panel to get to the heart of the matter and make some hard hitting reforms to Murdoch's organization. Otherwise, he may be the king to lose his head on this one.

"Murdoch's reputation has never been lily white. He is a hard competitor and surely is synonymous with sensational journalism, his Wall Street Journal ownership aside. He made his fortune on selling tabloids to the masses.

"But being an Aussie is not a good place for a Brit sometimes. Reputation redemption may be a long road back. For now, they just need to get at the bottom of the controversy, before they can think about any long-term recovery or offense."

Contact Peter Morrissey at 617-353-1020, pmorriss@bu.edu


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Can the Red Sox keep it going?

July 15, 2011 at 1:24 pm

With the All-Star break over, all eyes in baseball are now on October. So, can the Boston Red Sox keep their season going strong?  Thomas Whalen, Associate Professor of Social Science at Boston University and author of When the Red Sox Ruled: Baseball's First Dynasty 1912 - 1918 (Rowman & Littlefield Publishing, Inc.), offers analysis on the 2011 season so far and looks ahead to the second half.

 

Contact Whalen at 978-888-3131 or tjw64@comcast.net.


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Cornelius Hurley on the debt ceiling crisis

July 15, 2011 at 12:43 pm

With the August 2 default deadline looming, President Obama and the GOP are still miles apart on an agreement in their debt ceiling crisis debate. Cornelius Hurley, a professor at Boston University's School of Law and director of the school's Center for Finance, Law & Policy, gave his view in a post earlier this week on PoliticoArena. He expands on his comments in the following opinion piece.

"The debt ceiling is the tea party's war of choice just as Iraq was Bush's war of choice.

"Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has gotten a lot of mileage out of mischaracterizing the issue by saying the U.S. doesn't have a revenue crisis, it has a spending crisis. However, as Martin Wolf pointed out in a recent Financial Times op-ed, revenue as a percent of U.S. GDP was 18.2 at the end of Ronald Reagan's terms (sans wars) versus 14 percent today (avec wars). So, yes Virginia, it is a revenue problem and a spending problem.

Read More »

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Campaign 2012: Tom Fiedler & John Carroll on polls

July 15, 2011 at 11:19 am

In today's installment of our "Campaign 2012" series,  Tom Fiedler, Dean of Boston University's College of Communication, and John Carroll, an assistant professor of mass communication, share their views on whether the public should be paying attention to presidential polls.

Contact Tom Fiedler at 617-353-3488, tfiedler@bu.edu, Twitter: @BUCOMDEAN

Contact John Carroll at 617-353-3493, carroll7@bu.edu, Twitter: @johncarroll_bu


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