A LOOK AT THE WEEK AHEADJune 8 - June 15, 2001OFFICE OF NEWS AND MEDIA RELATIONS(215) 204-7476 Fax: (215) 204-4403
AND IN TODAY'S NEWS...SIXERS, SIXERS, SIXERS -- As the Philadelphia 76ers have marched to the brink of the NBA championship, have the local news media over-played their coverage at the expense of other news? "I find it hard to fault the local media for playing this story as they have," says Temple communications professor Thomas Eveslage. "I'm reminded of some of the feel-good stories that I read, saw and heard last summer when Philadelphia hosted the GOP convention. When the city is reflected in a positive way to the rest of the country, and Philadelphia citizens across the economic, social and political spectrum share in that positive feeling, we hardly should fault the news media for reflecting that in their content."
He says that there's no doubt been a bit of a bandwagon in all of the Sixers frenzy, and no news organization wants to be perceived as either a curmudgeon or a news outlet noticeably out of touch with what every competitor is reporting. But Eveslage adds, "If news consumers in our region feel good about the news they're reading and seeing, if the spirit of camaraderie helps the city, and--yes--even if the coverage helps dissuade people of the belief that all journalists do is print bad news and exploit people who are the victims of sensational stories...then I think the news coverage is more than justified."
Contact Eveslage at his office, 215-204-1905, at home, 215-884-3905, or through the Office of News and Media Relations, 215-204-7476.
TOUGH JUVENILE SENTENCING IS SETTING OFF ALARMS --The punishment for children committing adult crimes has experts questioning whether juvenile offenders should be tried as adults. Two recent Florida cases involving juveniles have reignited the debate. "These shocking cases provoke emotional responses from everyone, including policy-makers, parents, students and school systems. But they are forcing the nation to ask some difficult questions about how young offenders in this country should be handled," says Temple criminal justice professor Joan McCord, co-editor of the recently published research report, Juvenile Crime, Juvenile Justice. "Research has found that juveniles processed in adult courts are more likely to relapse into crime than to turn away from it." McCord adds, "Attempts to frighten young people into improving their behavior are unlikely to succeed, whether those attempts are made in schools or by the courts." However, she suggests that juvenile offenders can effectively be treated in community-based rehab programs. "These programs tackle a range of problems and involve not only the children, but also parents, teachers and others in the community."
Reach McCord at her office, 215-204-8080; at home, 610-667-6197; via e-mail, [email protected].; or through the Office of News and Media Relations.
BEATING THE HEAT DURING YOUR SUMMER WORKOUT -- This year's mild spring temperatures have been a joy for area runners, golfers and other outdoor exercisers. But as the higher heat and humidity of summer approaches, people need to use common sense and caution before heading out to take part in their favorite activities, says Joseph Libonati, Ph.D., director of Temple's Biokinetics Research Lab.
"People think that if they're outside sweating it means they're burning fat," says Libonati. "But all they're doing is losing water that their body needs." Libonati suggests people drink plenty of water throughout the day and if they're going to be exercising for a long period of time, have some H2O on hand to drink during the workout. On days of high heat and humidity, outdoor exercise should be limited to the early morning or after the sun has gone down, he says. And it's not just those involved in stressful activities like running that need to worry about the heat.
"If you're out playing softball or golf and it's hot, you might not even realize that you've lost a lot of fluid," says Libonati. "So if after the game you want to have a cold beer, that's fine, but have a glass of water first." Libonati advises that anyone who experiences the warning signs of heat sickness--such as nausea, blurry vision and dizziness--while exercising should stop immediately, find some shade or a cool place, drink some water, and, if need be, contact a doctor. "Don't mess around, especially if you're older or overweight. The heat can be a huge stress to the cardiovascular system and can potentially cause a heart attack."
Reach Dr. Libonati through the Office of News and Media Relations.
Cheryl AfonsoTemple UniversityOffice of News andMedia Relations215.204.7476[email protected]
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