ProfNet Experts Available on Police Attacks, Immigration Reform, More

NEW YORK, July 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Below are experts from the ProfNet network who are available to discuss timely issues in your coverage area.

You can also submit a query to the hundreds of thousands of experts in our network – it's easy and free! Just fill out the query form to get started: http://prn.to/queryform.

EXPERT ALERTS

• Why Turmoil in Turkey is Dangerous for the U.S.
• Enhancing Penalties for Police Attacks is Misguided
• It is Time to Radically Rethink Immigration Reform
• Could Pokémon Go Pursuits Lead to Court?
• Court Finds a Compromise for Probing Jurors' Social Media
• Experts Caution Against CMS Mandate of Unproven Bundled Payment for Emergency Episodes

MEDIA JOBS

• Senior Writer – CNN International (GA)
• Social Media Producer – ABC News (NY)
• Breaking News Reporter – Press of Atlantic City (NJ)

OTHER NEWS & RESOURCES

• Covering the Democratic Convention?
• Breaking Into Writing for Children and Families
• 11 Ways to Captivate Your News Audience With Snapchat Stories

-------------------------------------------------------------------

EXPERT ALERTS:

Why Turmoil in Turkey is Dangerous for the U.S.
Ambassador Richard Kauzlarich
Co-Director, Center for Energy Policy
George Mason University
"The U.S. is being accused of involvement in the attempted coup. Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is after a former ally -- Fethullah Gulen -- now in exile in the U.S. for organizing the coup, and has threatened unspecified consequences if the U.S. does not extradite Gulen. So, worst case, if we do not extradite Gulen, Turkey throws the U.S. military out of our base in Incirlik, withdraws from NATO and draws closer to Russia -- which is already pretty much there. Turkey -- an important bilateral partner and NATO ally -- is going through its most profound internal political crisis in the past two decades. A key element in the fight against ISIS in Syria, a major player in regional oil and gas transportation, at once a European and a Middle East power, and with difficult relations with Russia and Iran, Turkey is vital to U.S. global security and foreign policy interests."
Kauzlarich is the former U.S. ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina and is co-director of Mason's Center for Energy Policy. He frequently provides testimony in Washington, D.C., on developments in the Middle East and Asia.
Bio: http://richkauzlarich.gmu.edu
Website: http://spgia.gmu.edu/faculty-staff/faculty/richard-kauzlarich/
Contact: Buzz McClain, [email protected]

Enhancing Penalties for Police Attacks is Misguided
Nicole Knox
Attorney
Law Office of Nicole Knox in Dallas
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has proposed enhancing penalties on attacks against police by classifying them as hate crimes. Says Knox: "I have represented a white police officer who was acquitted of civil rights charges, and I have represented African-American citizens who were arrested because of their skin color and acquitted at trial. Racial biases, conscious and unconscious, cloud our judgment and can cause us to question the integrity of an entire race. Anything that furthers the racial divide is a threat to sustaining justice and freedom in America. We must learn to focus on solutions that unite instead of divide. While Gov. Abbott intends to protect law enforcement with this bill, it will effectively further the racial divide because it protects police officers without protecting citizens from the same hatred. For a solution that unites instead of divides, he should propose broader legislation that protects all citizens against hate crimes or propose no legislation at all."
News Contact: Mark Annick, [email protected]

It is Time to Radically Rethink Immigration Reform
John W. Lawit
Immigration Attorney
John W. Lawit LLC in Dallas
"Ultimately, the challenge at the root of immigration reform is that it will take real leadership -- from Congress and the White House -- to ditch the broken statute that is no longer functioning and replace it with a modern, efficient law that addresses the country's needs for the 21st century. Congress and the president should stop acting like children and make real reform possible. Since 1952, various Congresses and many presidents have buried their heads in the sand. That will no longer work. Citizens, including the businessmen and women who live and work within the current antiquated system, deserve better. Finding something better means sending to Washington only those who will avoid an obstructionist agenda and instead be open to real reform. In our current climate, that may seem impossible, but this country has tackled difficult issues before."
News Contact: Mark Annick, [email protected]

Could Pokémon Go Pursuits Lead to Court?
Rogge Dunn
Attorney
Clouse Dunn LLP in Dallas
While the online Pokémon Go game has been credited for encouraging more public conversation and promoting regular physical exercise, there are many ways that a Pokémon pursuit can land a player at the courthouse or, worse, the jailhouse. Although Pokémon Go manufacturer Nintendo requires players to accept terms of service that prevent them from taking the company to court unless they send an opt-out notice, he says there are no such free passes for those who play the game. Says Dunn: "While Pokémon Go may blur the line between fantasy and reality, there are real legal consequences if you step outside the law as a player. If you park your car in the street, expect a parking ticket. If you're trespassing on someone's property, expect to get arrested. If you cause a wreck while speeding toward a popular Pokémon location, you better be prepared for jail."
Contact: Bruce Vincent, [email protected]

Court Finds a Compromise for Probing Jurors' Social Media
Britta Stanton
Attorney
Lynn Pinker Cox & Hurst in Dallas
Can a lawyer search the social media accounts of prospective jurors before a trial? The American Bar Association says such practices are ethical, but some courts have said no. A judge in a California federal case pitting Oracle against Google found a possible middle ground. The judge recently ruled that attorneys could search social media pages, but only after advance notice, offering potential jurors a chance to change their online privacy settings. Says Stanton: "The bottom line is, just as most anyone can look at what you post publicly on social media, when you're called to report for jury duty, the lawyers asking you questions might be researching your online persona. If you don't like it, you should change your privacy settings before showing up at the courthouse, even if just temporarily."
Contact: Barry Pound, [email protected]

Experts Caution Against CMS Mandate of Unproven Bundled Payment for Emergency Episodes
Deirdre Baggot, Ph.D., RN
Principal
ECG Management Consultants
"The announcement of the new bundled payment pilot for bypass surgery and heart attacks shows CMS is doubling down on mandatory bundled payments. The evidence continues to mount supporting the efficacy of bundled payments for elective procedures, to be sure. The evidence to support bundled payments in emergency procedures, however, is non-existent.  While I fully support Dr. Patrick Conway's work at CMS, providers deserve to understand that bundling heart attacks is a very different exercise compared to elective procedures, such as bypass surgery and joint replacements. It is extremely difficult to control costs when your mind and efforts are focused solely on saving a patient's life. The truth is, bundles for bypass surgery will be successful, but the effectiveness of bundles for emergency procedures is not entirely clear."
As the former expert reviewer for the CMS Bundled Payments for Care Improvement Initiative and former lead of the CMS Acute Care Episode (ACE) Bundled Payments Demonstration, Baggot is uniquely qualified to offer insight and experience to providers so they can truly understand the risks, benefits, and implications associate with the expansion of bundled payments. She has been a featured expert on National Public Radio's "Morning Edition," "All Things Considered" and "Planet Money." She has also been invited to testify before Congress on bundled payments.
ProfNet Profile: http://www.profnetconnect.com/deirdrebaggot
Website: http://www.ecgmc.com
Contact: Kim Miller, [email protected]

****************

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/

• Senior Writer – CNN International (GA)
• Social Media Producer – ABC News (NY)
• Breaking News Reporter – Press of Atlantic City (NJ)

*****************

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.

• COVERING THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION? Whether you're physically in Philadelphia or reporting remotely, convention news can be delivered directly to your inbox. As the exclusive press release distributor for both conventions, PR Newswire is distributing speech copy, podium schedules and other convention announcements via the PR Newswire for Journalists media site. More details: http://bit.ly/2aqlCBv
• BREAKING INTO WRITING FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. Are you interested in writing for kids? In our latest Twitter Q&A, we spoke with Karl Beckstrand, an award-winning author of 15 multicultural books and more than 40 e-book titles. Beckstrand discussed how to find ideas and inspiration, working with illustrators, hiring a publisher vs. self-publishing, marketing your book and more: http://prn.to/29C1UQb
• 11 WAYS TO CAPTIVATE YOUR NEWS AUDIENCE WITH SNAPCHAT STORIES. Snapchat is broadening its appeal beyond its fanatical teen base. The Wall Street Journal reported last week that 14 percent of U.S. smartphone users over age 35 are now on Snapchat. With critical mass achieved and a rapidly growing user base of older millennials and above, mainstream adoption now may be firmly cemented. This is good news for those in the media and blogging world who are looking for new ways to reach these previously untapped demographics – in addition to younger generations. Here are some tips for growing your brand and audience through Snapchat stories: http://bit.ly/29XDfuL

PROFNET is an exclusive service of PR Newswire.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150416/199234LOGO

SOURCE ProfNet

Related Links

http://www.profnet.com