ProfNet Experts Available on NAFTA, Tax Reform, Entry-Level Careers, More

NEW YORK, May 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Below are experts from the ProfNet network who are available to discuss timely issues in your coverage area.

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EXPERT ALERTS

• NAFTA and Trump's Calls for Renegotiations
• President Trump's Tax Reform Proposal
• Are Ivanka and Jared Trapped in the Trump Family Business?
• Screening Graphic/Offensive Video Content on Facebook
• Entry-Level Careers for the Class of 2017
• How United Airlines' Path to Reputation Ruin Can Be Turned Around

MEDIA JOBS

• Capital Markets Reporter – Debtwire
• Reporter, Washington Newsletter – The Wall Street Journal
• Reporter – The Bond Buyer

OTHER NEWS & RESOURCES

• How to Get Policy News on PR Newswire for Journalists
• How the AP Fights Fake News
• Behind the Headlines, With Tim Race

EXPERT ALERTS:

NAFTA and Trump's Calls for Renegotiations
Raj Bhala
Associate Dean for International and Comparative Law, Rice Distinguished Professor
University of Kansas School of Law
Bhala is available to discuss President Trump's calls to renegotiate NAFTA, threats to terminate the agreement and related trade issues: "NAFTA has become a pillar of the American economy and stands as one of the broadest, deepest free-trade agreements in human history. One way to appreciate its significance is to see it in the light of the long, uneasy history of U.S.-Mexican relations and swings in Mexican economy policy through much of the 20th century. Another, 21st century, way to think about NAFTA is to realize that America, Canada and Mexico already spent eight years rewriting and modernizing it – it's called TPP. Unilateral threats of withdrawal or demands for renegotiations risk triggering yet more protectionist moves across the globe."
Bhala is author of dozens of journal articles and books, including "TPP Objectively: Law, Economics, and National Security of History's Largest, Longest Free Trade Agreement," "Modern GATT Law" and "Understanding Islamic Law (Shari'a)."
Contact: Mike Krings, [email protected]

President Trump's Tax Reform Proposal
Robert Duquette
Professor of Practice in Accounting
Lehigh University
Duquette is available to discuss President Trump's tax reform proposal, as well as the House proposal and the need for tax reform: "President Trump's plan consists of three individual tax brackets: 10 percent, 25 percent and 35 percent; and a doubling of the standard deduction. That would mean, for example, the first $24,000 of a couple's taxable income would be exempt from taxes. The House's version also provides for new, higher combined exemption deductions of $12,000 for singles ($18,000 with children), and $24,000 for couples filing jointly, and consists of three tax rates: 12 percent, 25 percent and 33 percent. Who benefits the most from these plans? The Tax Foundation projects that taxpayers would see an average increase in their after-tax income of between 1 percent and 10 percent in total over 10 years. However, the top 1 percent would benefit the most, with the wealthiest taxpayers seeing an increase in their after-tax income of 5 percent to 20 percent. What is the impact on economic growth and the national debt? A significant part of the cost would be offset by broadening the tax base through elimination of many deductions and credit, loss of business interest deductibility, loss of the domestic manufacturing deduction, and possibly a tax on some type of imports. All independent analyses of the proposals indicate there would probably be trillions of dollars added to the federal debt over the next 10 years. I'm not optimistic of passage of this tax reform in Congress. Even if it does pass, no reputable study has yet suggested it can help mitigate the growth in the national debt from the present $20 million to $30 trillion over the next 10 years."
In addition to teaching taxation and accounting, Duquette is a CPA and has worked in tax and audit advising for three decades.
Blog: http://cbe.lehigh.edu/blog
Bio: http://cbe.lehigh.edu/faculty/accounting/robert-duquette
Contact: Amy White, [email protected]

Are Ivanka and Jared Trapped in the Trump Family Business?
Dr. Michael A. Klein
Psychologist, Consultant
MK Insights LLC, Massachusetts
"As in any family business, being a family member can be extremely complicated emotionally. Even thinking of a possible exit or significant role change can be overwhelming because of guilt, obligation, fear, and myriad other underlying reasons."
Dr. Klein is available to speak to how and why children get trapped in their family businesses and some of the potential emotional issues facing the Trump children. He is author of "Trapped in the Family Business: A practical guide to understanding and managing this hidden dilemma," and is approaching 20 years of experience as a human resources professional and organizational consultant. 
Website: http://www.trappedinfambiz.com
Expert Contact: [email protected]

Screening Graphic/Offensive Video Content on Facebook
Jeremy Littau, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Journalism and Communication
Lehigh University
In the past three weeks, two suicides and two murders have been broadcast via Facebook Live or posted to Facebook after. Littau is available to discuss how instances of graphic/offensive video content can be screened on Facebook: "In some ways this is a problem of technology. Instant video and live video are here to stay, for better or worse, and Facebook has to compete in that reality. They certainly could require a human to watch every video before it's approved for posting, but that is unrealistic and the audience that is used to instant gratification on what they post would not stand for it. I know Facebook is testing AI to look for offensive content at the point of upload, but it's important to be realistic about the imperfections of this technology. We are stuck with a collaboration between their content standards team and public reporting for the near future. But, in that sense, Facebook is acknowledging that indeed it has a responsibility to come up with better strategies to monitor offensive or illegal content. For all the company's problems and missteps over the years, to its credit Facebook has tried to attack this problem head on."
Based in Bethlehem, Pa., Littau is the author of "Up, Periscope: Mobile Streaming Video Technologies, Privacy in Public, and the Right to Record."
Website: http://www.lehigh.edu
Contact: Lauren Stralo, [email protected]

Entry-Level Careers for the Class of 2017
Brian Weed
CEO
GradStaff, Inc.
Weed is available to share insights on the top industries hiring new grads now, based on GradStaff's candidate and client research, as well as commentary related to the entry-level hiring landscape for both grads and the companies that want to hire them. "The Class of 2017 will enter the strongest entry-level job market in years, particularly in industries dealing with an aging workforce and retiring baby boomers. But companies in these industries need new strategies to recruit and retain the best young men and women for the job."
Weed is CEO of GradStaff, a national career matchmaking firm specializing in entry-level recruitment and hiring. He is an experienced business leader with nearly 30 years of experience helping companies of all sizes boost revenue and improve processes as well as outcomes, particularly in the higher education market.
GradStaff is seeing a number of trends at work in the hiring economy this year – particularly a dire need for "aging" industries like insurance, health care and logistics to hire and cultivate future leaders at the entry level – contributing to a robust and competitive job market for spring grads. Liberal arts grads continue to be in high demand. Academics and business leaders alike – including billionaire Mark Cuban – are now touting the ascendance of liberal arts grads in the workforce as automation continues to transform the labor market. Transferable skills may be the upside of underemployment. It's a classic "chicken or the egg" story for entry-level job seekers: How can I land my first job when job descriptions ask for previous experience in the field? Despite several years of data showing significant underemployment among recent college grads, there may be a silver lining: these are now "experienced" workers who can transfer their workplace skills to a professional setting.
ProfNet Profile: http://www.profnetconnect.com/brianweed/
Contact: David Hlavac, [email protected]

How United Airlines' Path to Reputation Ruin Can Be Turned Around
Ryan McCormick
Reputation Management Specialist and Co-Founder
"The tsunami of negative press United Airlines has experienced in the past month is causing short- and long-term damage to its reputation and brand. Here are three things have been toxic to United Airlines: 1) Passenger David Dao's violent removal from a United Airlines flight; 2) UA receives the lowest domestic airline raking in 2017 American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI); 2) This week's report of UA being number one in animal deaths. United Airlines doesn't have to stay on the path to reputation ruin. They can take some actions to reverse their course, though nothing is guaranteed. Here are a few suggestions: 1) Munoz has to go. He may be incredibly skilled and his overall tenure may have been financially healthy for UA; however, he needs to be removed. Between Munoz's tone-deaf responses and the fact these events have all happened on his watch means that Munoz has become an albatross to UA's reputation. 2) Purge employees with poor behavioral histories. Any UA employee that deals with the public should be courteous, patient, and respectful. Employees who deal with the public that have had questionable behavioral issues in the past should either be immediately terminated or transferred to a division that doesn't engage the public. 3) UA should hire a new PR team. There are many respectable PR agencies that have the talent, passion, and enthusiasm to take on the task of rebuilding UA's reputation. They need a fresh perspective. 4) Customer service needs to be top priority. If UA retrains their employees to treat each customer like gold (waive certain fees, be extra polite), it can go a long way. It would be wise for UA to meet with and learn from the Marriott Corporation, the leading innovators of excellent service. 5) New UA contract with customers. Have UA's new CEO issue a list of 10 new commitments of how the airline will treat customers going forward. Put this list of new commitments on every airline seat. Albert Einstein once said, 'No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it.' This is the PR crossroads where United Airlines currently stands."
Website: www.goldmanmcormick.com
Expert Contact: [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/jobs/

• Capital Markets Reporter – Debtwire
• Reporter, Washington Newsletter – The Wall Street Journal
• Reporter – The Bond Buyer

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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.

• HOW TO GET POLICY NEWS ON PR NEWSWIRE FOR JOURNALISTS. While President Donald Trump continues to spar with news agencies about White House coverage, PR Newswire has a massive collection of releases to help fill out stories. Hundreds of news releases cross the newswire each day, discussing everything from the president's agenda to folks who support his work – and others who don't. Read more: http://bit.ly/2oY3eV3
• HOW THE AP FIGHTS FAKE NEWS. Information is everywhere. How is the average news consumer supposed to separate fact from fiction? That's where the Associated Press steps in. The AP has been a paragon of neutrality and fact-based content for 171 years, but only recently has it gotten attention specifically for the work it is doing to rid the world of misinformation, one piece of news at a time. What started as a fact-checking mission to validate information presented by newsmakers has migrated into an organization-wide effort to verify reported or shared news stories that appear to have bad information: http://prn.to/2pldN8B
• BEHIND THE HEADLINES, WITH TIM RACE. Over the past 27 years, Tim Race became a veteran at the New York Times, serving in a variety of roles, including energy, autos and transportation editor. A few months ago, Race made the jump from journalism to a career in PR. We sat down with Rice to discuss his transition to PR, using the full array of purchased, earned, sponsored and owned media platforms to help clients tell stories, and building your personal brand to work your way up: http://cisn.co/2pl6dee

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