OHIO STATE IN THE MEDIA

Each month staff in the Office of University Relations report on Ohio State research and connect reporters with experts across the University. They then monitor articles that mention Ohio State in the 50 largest U.S. and select world media markets. The dozens of articles each month are just one indication of the high profile the University enjoys in the national media.

John Ellerman, agricultural marketing specialist, was quoted in an Aug. 5 Wall Street Journal article about the growing popularity of "U-pick" farms where people can pick their own fruits and vegetables. He said these farms are particularly popular near urban areas, where city dwellers can taste farm life without going far from home.

A Sept. 1 Ottawa Citizen article mentioned research at Ohio State that found some individuals have a genetic trait that causes their bodies to not break down nicotine as well as others. As a result, nicotine stays in their system longer, increasing their addiction.

Janice Kiecolt-Glaser, professor of psychology and psychiatry, was quoted in a Sept. 2 New York Times article about a new University of Wisconsin study that found the activation of brain regions associated with negative emotions appears to weaken people's immune response to a flu vaccine. She said the study is some of the best evidence to date of the link between stress and immunity. Kiecolt-Glaser and Ronald Glaser, professor of molecular virology, immunology and medical genetics, were quoted in the Sept. 8 and 29 Los Angeles Daily News and the October 2003 Health magazine about their research that found a critical chemical pathway through which the human immune system is weakened by chronic stress. The study reinforces earlier work that showed long-term caregivers suffer from impaired immunity. The two also were mentioned in a Sept. 14 New York Times article about a series of studies they did showing that stress typically impairs immune function in humans.

John Mueller, professor of political science and Woody Hayes Chair of National Security Studies at the Mershon Center, was quoted in various articles about public views concerning the possible links between Saddam Hussein and terrorism, and the concern over America's continuing involvement in Iraq. Coverage included: USA Today, Sept. 2; Agence France Press and Washington Post, Sept. 6; Deutsche Presse-Agentur, Sept. 7; Baltimore Sun, Sept. 11; and Christian Science Monitor, Sept. 18.

Donna Jarrell, lecturer in English, was interviewed as part of NPR's "Talk of the Nation" Sept. 9, about what it is like being overweight in America. Jarrell is co-editor of the new book What Are You Looking At?: The First Fat Fiction Anthology.

The Times of London, Sept. 9, included an article about research by Melissa Jungers, assistant professor of psychology at Newark, that found people change the rate at which they speak or play music to more closely match speakers or musicians they have just heard.

Merry Merryfield, professor of social studies and global education, was quoted in the Sept. 9 Christian Science Monitor about how teachers would try to talk to their classes about the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 at the two-year anniversary. Merryfield also was quoted in the Sept. 15 Minneapolis Star Tribune about her belief that Ohio's new social studies teaching standards don't have enough of a global focus

Scripps Howard News Service, Sept. 9, carried an article about research by Paul Nutt, professor of management sciences. Nutt found that about 50 percent of all business decisions ultimately fail.

Peter Swire, professor of law, was quoted in articles in the Sept. 9 Newark Star-Ledger, the Sept. 11 Boston Globe and the Sept. 15 USA Today about various issues concerning the recording industry's lawsuits against people who have downloaded copyrighted songs from the Internet. Swire was quoted by the Associated Press, Sept. 20, about how the U.S. government's plan to collect personal data on airline and cruise passengers to prevent terrorists from entering the country is running into resistance from the European Union. Swire said this could become a major trade dispute.

United Press International, Sept. 10, carried an article about research by David Beversdorf, assistant professor of neurology. Beversdorf found combining vitamin E and a drug used to treat mild to moderate dementia may slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease.

United Press International, Sept. 10, and the Denver Post, Sept. 22, carried articles about research by H.G. Parsa, associate professor of hospitality management, who found the failure rate of restaurants is about 60 percent over three years, much less than the 90 percent rate that is often quoted.

Michael Boehm, associate professor of plant pathology, was quoted in a United Press International article on Sept. 11 about the importance of early detection of bioterror attacks against the United States to help prevent widespread harm.

Paul Poast, lecturer in economics, wrote a letter to the editor published in the Financial Times, Sept. 12, in which he said that the United States should be constantly wary of the dangers of inflation.

L. Eugene Arnold, professor emeritus of psychiatry, was quoted in the Los Angeles Times, Sept. 15, about how most alternative, non-drug therapies for attention deficit in children have not been tested thoroughly for effectiveness.