ProfNet Experts Available on Facebook's 'Legacy Contact,' Water Crisis, Veteran Issues, More

NEW YORK, Feb. 25, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Below are experts from the ProfNet network that are available to discuss timely issues in your coverage area. If you are interested in interviewing any of the experts, please contact them via the contact information at the end of the listing.

If you are in need of additional experts, you can also submit a query to the hundreds of thousands of experts in our network. You can filter your request by institution type and geographic location to get the most targeted responses. The best part? It's free! Just fill out the query form to get started: http://bit.ly/findexperts?tc=alerts22515.

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EDITOR'S NOTE

• How Do You Use Mobile in Your Reporting?

EXPERT ALERTS

• Criminal Trade Secret Theft Charges on Upswing
• Drones Will Require Unique Insurance Coverage
• 'Thumbs Up' to Facebook's Estate Planning
• Physician Advocacy Must Withstand Scrutiny
• Devastating Consequences of Global Water and Sanitation Crisis
• New Rules on Narcotic Painkillers Cause Grief for Veterans and VA

MEDIA JOBS

• Technology, Innovation and Tourism Reporter – Post and Courier (SC)
• Copywriter/Story Architect – Wall Street Daily (MD)
• Writer/Editor – Tech.pro (TX)

OTHER NEWS & RESOURCES

• Beyond Print Media: Six Ways to Find Writing Assignments
• PR Newswire's Media Moves, Feb. 16 Edition
• The Blog Blog: Fighting Blogger's Block

EDITOR'S NOTE:

To better understand how members of the media use mobile devices (phones or tablets) to produce stories, PR Newswire for Journalists is asking users to participate in a quick, eight-question survey. The survey will remain open until Feb. 28: http://bit.ly/prnjmobile

EXPERT ALERTS:

Criminal Trade Secret Theft Charges on Upswing
Joe Ahmad
Executive Employment Lawyer
Ahmad, Zavitsanos, Anaipakos, Alavi & Mensing P.C., in Houston
Trade secret theft has been a federal crime since the passage of the Economic Espionage Act in 1996, but it wasn't until the Justice Department's creation of the Task Force on Intellectual Property in 2010 that such prosecutions became more common. Says Ahmad: "Criminal prosecution sends a powerful message and raises the stakes significantly for anybody who has been accused of stealing trade secrets. Not being able to work or paying damages is bad enough, but going to prison is another thing entirely. However, there's a downside for companies that resort to criminal prosecution. First, you have to convince a prosecutor to press charges, and even if they do, the burden of proof in criminal court is higher than in civil court. If you get a conviction, it doesn't undo the damage that was done by the theft. If you file a civil lawsuit, at least you have a chance at recovering damages."
Media Contact: Amy Hunt, [email protected]

Drones Will Require Unique Insurance Coverage
Beverly Godbey
Attorney
Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP, Dallas
The release of the Federal Aviation Administration's long-awaited proposed policies regulating remote-controlled aircraft brings the era of commercial drone use just a little bit closer. Although the first permits are not expected until 2017, businesses should start working now on insurance coverage. Says Godbey: "Businesses that anticipate adopting drones into their operations will need to add specific coverages. Because a typical commercial general liability policy excludes coverage for aircraft, as drones have been defined, it is important to obtain special owner/operator coverage for property and liability insurance. Some insurers have proposed endorsements to existing liability policies, but others offer 'all risks of ground and flight' coverage similar to aviation policies. The coverages vary widely, so prudent businesses should start early and make sure the coverage meets their proposed applications."
Media Contact: Rhonda Reddick, [email protected]

'Thumbs Up' to Facebook's Estate Planning
Jessica Dunne
Probate and Estate Lawyer
Chamblee, Ryan, Kershaw & Anderson, P.C. in Dallas
Facebook's announcement that it will allow users to designate a "legacy contact" to serve as their profile's administrator after they die is the next logical phase in estate planning. Says Dunne: "In estate planning, people often give consideration to the obvious tangibles -- their bank and investment accounts, their real estate holdings and other physical assets. Now that social media is nearly ubiquitous in the United States, both users and app developers are becoming aware of the need for establishing protocols to follow when users of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other social media pass away or are unable to manage their accounts. There are ways for people to access Facebook accounts of users who die, but it's usually a difficult and often lengthy legal process. Facebook has definitely done consumers a favor. Appointing an 'heir' to social media accounts can help survivors avoid such complexities and expense."
Media Contact: Dave Moore, [email protected]

Physician Advocacy Must Withstand Scrutiny
David M. Walsh IV
Appellate Health Care Attorney
Chamblee, Ryan, Kershaw & Anderson, P.C. in Dallas
A recent article in The New England Journal of Medicine authored by two physicians highlights the potential advocacy power of doctors, but such exercises of free speech sometimes can lead to unintended legal issues. Says Walsh: "In the article, they argue that physicians should do more to advocate on behalf of their patients in support of broader paid medical leave policies. However, any type of physician advocacy must also be able to withstand legal scrutiny. For example, the Florida Legislature recently enacted legislation that prohibited physicians from inquiring about gun ownership unless directly related to the medical care provided."
Media Contact: Dave Moore, [email protected]

Devastating Consequences of Global Water and Sanitation Crisis
Sarina Prabasi
CEO
WaterAid America
"While working with WaterAid in Ethiopia, I saw firsthand both the devastating local consequences of the global water and sanitation crisis and, perhaps more importantly, solutions in action and the difference that investing in the basic foundations of human development can make. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to see for myself how whole families and communities were transformed with the simple, life-changing gifts of safe water, sanitation and good hygiene practices. There is neither health nor prosperity without safe water and decent toilets. Everyone is affected, but females and children pay a particularly heavy price."
Prabasi is the chief executive of WaterAid America, the world's largest international nonprofit dedicated exclusively to helping the world's poorest people gain long-term access to safe drinking water, toilets and effective hygiene education. Relevant statistics: Around 1,400 children die every day from diseases caused by dirty water and poor sanitation; 748 million people in the world live without safe water; 2.5 billion people (39% of the world's population) live without sanitation; for every $1 invested in water and sanitation, an average of $4 is returned in increased productivity; just $25 can enable one person to access a lasting supply of safe water. Prabasi is available to discuss water and sustainability, hygiene education and sanitation development.
Website: http://www.wateraid.org/us
Media Contact: Mari Escamilla, [email protected]

New Rules on Narcotic Painkillers Cause Grief for Veterans and VA
Kyle Simon
Director of Policy and Advocacy
Center for Lawful Access and Abuse Deterrence
"New federal rules that make it harder to get narcotic painkillers are taking an unexpected toll on thousands of veterans who depend on these prescription drugs to treat a wide variety of ailments, such as missing limbs and post-traumatic stress. More than half a million veterans are now on prescription opioids, according to VA. Pain experts at VA say that, in hindsight, they have been overmedicating veterans, and doctors at the Pentagon and VA now say the use of the painkillers contributes to family strife, homelessness and even suicide among veterans. A study by the American Public Health Association in 2011 also showed that the overdose rate among VA patients is nearly double the national average."
In his role with the Center for Lawful Access and Abuse Deterrence (CLAAD), Simon manages policy and advocacy initiatives, provides policy analysis and drafting, directs rapid response efforts, and oversees a coalition of allied organizations focused on advancing common goals. His background includes several years of health care policy, advocacy, and political experience. He has worked with policy makers on Medicare, Medicaid, and regulatory issues; served members of Congress; managed a statewide political organization representing the president of the United States; and held leadership roles in multiple political campaigns.
Media Contact: Mark Goldman, [email protected]

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MEDIA JOBS:

Following are links to job listings for staff and freelance writers, editors and producers. You can view these and more job listings on our Job Board: https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/community/

• Technology, Innovation and Tourism Reporter – Post and Courier (SC)
• Copywriter/Story Architect – Wall Street Daily (MD)
• Writer/Editor – Tech.pro (TX)

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OTHER NEWS & RESOURCES:

Following are links to other news and resources we think you might find useful. If you have an item you think other reporters would be interested in and would like us to include in a future alert, please drop us a line.

• BEYOND PRINT MEDIA: SIX WAYS TO FIND WRITING ASSIGNMENTS. As a freelance writer, you've probably seen some of the outlets you write for close down. Fear not, there are still plenty of assignments out there for you. You may just need to look in new places. Here are six ways, beyond newspapers and magazines, to find writing assignments: http://prn.to/1ATbAR8
• PR NEWSWIRE'S MEDIA MOVES, FEB. 16 EDITION. PR Newswire's weekly audience research newsletter, PR Newswire's Media Moves, is chock-full of media news and job changes. In this week's issue, you'll read updates on NBC Nightly News, Politico, The Hill, Houston Chronicle, Star Tribune, Washington Post, Indianapolis Star, Vox, Crain's Chicago Business and more: http://prn.to/1FitwXT
• THE BLOG BLOG: FIGHTING BLOGGER'S BLOCK. Blogger's block is quite common. Months of consistent blogging can really burn you out. Some days you'll be swimming in a sea full of ideas, and other days you'll be asking yourself, "Now what do I write about?" Caught in a similar predicament? Here are seven ways to help alleviate blogger's block: http://prn.to/1DvcBAN

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