ProfNet Experts Available on Sony Hacking Scandal, Rape Culture on College Campuses, More

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Dec 23, 2014, 03:00 ET

NEW YORK, Dec. 23, 2014 /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.

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EDITOR'S NOTE

How Do You Use Mobile in Your Reporting?

EXPERT ALERTS

Rape Culture on College Campuses
Mexico's Energy Reform on Fast Track
Challenges of Moving U.S. Oil to U.S. Ports by Sea
Liability Raised for Oil Spill-Related Damages
Auction Offerings Reflect Oil Price
Latest Foreign Bribery Involves Aircraft Work
iPads, Attitudes Create Cyberchallenges
Liability Among Sony's Data Breach Problems
Will Sony's Hacking Scandal Change the Way People Communicate Online?

MEDIA JOBS

Education Multimedia Journalist – Naples Daily News (FL)
Staff Writer – Village Voice (NY)
Personal Finance Writer – CNBC.com (NJ)

OTHER NEWS & RESOURCES

The Year in Twitter Chats
Media 411: Top Posts of 2014
Five Ways to Stay Creative in the Winter

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 Dec. 31: http://bit.ly/prnjmobile

EXPERT ALERTS:

Rape Culture on College Campuses
Andrew Shubin
Sexual Abuse Attorney
Law Office of Andrew Shubin
"Now that Jameis Winston has been cleared of code-of-conduct accusations and will play in the college football playoff semifinal game against Oregon on Jan. 1, Florida State is yet another example of an institution so consumed with its image that it promotes a culture that enables dangerous people and behavior."
Shubin, a key figure in the recently released documentary "Happy Valley," represented nine of the victims of the Penn State/Jerry Sandusky sex abuse scandal. He compares the Florida State case to what occurred during several decades in football-worshipping State College. Furthermore, he believes this culture must change so victims, not football players and coaches, first receive the benefit of the doubt.
ProfNet Profile: http://www.profnetconnect.com/andrewshubin
Media Contact: Hollie Geitner, [email protected]

Mexico's Energy Reform on Fast Track
Gabriel Ruiz
Attorney
Thompson & Knight in Monterrey and Mexico City
The recent publication of the Round 1 bid guidelines is the latest step in a fast-moving process to make the Mexican government's energy reform a reality. Launched through 2013 legislative amendments, the reforms break a 75-year stronghold by PEMEX on crude production. The just-announced rules specify how and when oil and gas companies can address technical and financial questions and submit proposals to the National Hydrocarbons Commission for the award of 14 production sharing contracts. Says Ruiz: "The proposal deadline in July followed by contract execution in August indicates how quickly companies need to act to assemble data and pre-qualify to participate. The process is moving quickly, but as expected, the rules will be likely generating significant feedback from industry participants." The first phase of outside investment will open up some 169 onshore and offshore oil and gas properties that cover more than 11,000 square miles.
Media Contact: Barry Pound, [email protected]

Challenges of Moving U.S. Oil to U.S. Ports by Sea
Michael J. Wray
Marine and Energy Attorney
Legge, Farrow, Kimmitt, McGrath & Brown L.L.P. in Houston
Like pipelines and trains, ships are another way to move U.S. crude oil. While there are plenty of foreign-made ships to carry crude, domestic oil transported between points in the U.S. must be carried by a U.S.-built, U.S.-owned vessel manned by a U.S. crew as required under the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, also known as the Jones Act. U.S. ships are being built, but not fast enough. Some industry groups are pushing for changes to the Jones Act that could speed sea-borne shipment of oil from Texas to the West Coast. Says Wray: "Although repealing the Jones Act is not something we'll likely see in our lifetimes, we have advised clients of possible developments that could affect shipping. Possibilities include more government-backed loans to support U.S. shipbuilding, usage fees on foreign-flagged vessels, and expanding the current Jones Act limited waiver to allow foreign vessels to transport domestic oil to U.S. ports. All of these options raise challenges, but falling prices and an overabundance of crude oil have ginned up a lot of interest in the Jones Act."
Media Contact: Kit Frieden, [email protected]

Liability Raised for Oil Spill-Related Damages
Daniel Johnson
Energy and Insurance Attorney
Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP in Houston
Offshore oil companies are now liable for $134 million in certain oil spill-related damages, an increase from the previous cap of $75 million. The federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management raised the liability limit earlier this month. Says Johnson: "This new cap was not unexpected and likely won't have a dramatic effect on any of the majors. That said, it will almost certainly force some companies to purchase more insurance, and on that incremental basis, could impact some of the small exploration and production companies and operators. However, the key component that has not changed under the Oil Pollution Act is that there is no cap for cleanup and/or restoration costs, so those numbers can obviously be significant and well above even the new economic damages cap."
Media Contact: Kit Frieden, [email protected]

Auction Offerings Reflect Oil Price
Denmon Sigler
Energy Attorney
Winston & Strawn LLP in Houston
Just as Mexico takes the first historic steps to open its oil fields to foreign companies, the price of crude is reaching new lows. Whether that will lead to lackluster interest in a long-anticipated opportunity remains to be seen. The question is whether the big players will come forward now that oil has fallen 40 percent from its peak. Says Sigler: "Mexico's choice of 14 exploratory blocks in shallow waters that should have relatively low production costs indicates it is mindful of lower oil prices. However, if oil prices continue to drop or remain low deeper into 2015, Mexico may need to consider more bidder-friendly contract terms to spur interest in developing subsequent blocks that will have higher production costs, such as deep water and unconventional resources."
Media Contact: Kit Frieden, [email protected]

Latest Foreign Bribery Involves Aircraft Work
Tom Fox
FCPA and Compliance Ethics Lawyer and Blogger
Tom Fox Law in Houston
A Texas aircraft maintenance company recently admitted bribing government officials in Argentina, Brazil and Peru to secure lucrative engine maintenance contracts, with officials agreeing to pay $14 million in criminal penalties as part of a deal with the Department of Justice. Federal prosecutors say the company violated the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act from 2008 to 2012 by directing money to government officials who awarded contracts. Says Fox: "This case is notable for a couple of reasons. First, it shows the DOJ will continue to prosecute companies in the aircraft maintenance business. The DOJ has previously prosecuted similar companies, and there may be others on the horizon. Second, it shows the routine nature of the bribes, which were primarily exchanges of $3,000 to $5,000, and payments for vacations. It will be interesting to see if the DOJ prosecutes any individuals in this investigation."
Media Contact: Kit Frieden, [email protected]

iPads, Attitudes Create Cyberchallenges
Wilson Jones
Attorney
Thompson & Knight in Dallas
Doctors and other health care professionals increasingly are relying on iPads, smartphones and similar mobile technologies to efficiently document patient care, access information, and communicate across any number of wireless networks. In many cases these are personal devices, which pose significant risks for data breaches, privacy violations and invasive malware. Says Jones: "Many practitioners are passionate about using their own tablets and phones. But no matter who owns the device, the hospital or clinical practice is responsible for protecting the data on it, and usage surveys show that most personal devices are not even password-protected. It's a balancing act for most hospitals and practices in accommodating the benefits and risks of mobile technology. With the right training, policies, encryption standards, and IT oversight, it's possible to achieve that balance, but this is a major challenge for most health care organizations."
Media Contact: Barry Pound, [email protected]

Liability Among Sony's Data Breach Problems
Mark Thibodeaux
Privacy and Data Security Attorney
Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP in Houston
The computer attack on Sony Pictures Entertainment that released vast troves of employee information, passwords, snarky comments, and business negotiations raises a host of legal issues. Says Thibodeaux: "A lot of questions have been raised as to whether such an attack would fall under some of the standard exclusions that are common in both ordinary and cyber insurance policies, such as 'acts of war' or 'terrorism.'" Also among Sony's many headaches -- including threats against movie theaters that were planning to show "The Interview," the now-cancelled comedy about a plot to assassinate the leader of North Korea -- are lawsuits filed by employees claiming the company failed to protect their personal and medical records. "There is a question as to whether Sony was doing enough to try to protect its computer systems. There is a potential, at least, that insufficient 'due diligence' in protecting the property could be an exclusion in relevant insurance policies."
Media Contact: Kit Frieden, [email protected]

Will Sony's Hacking Scandal Change the Way People Communicate Online?
Dr. Frieda Birnbaum
Research Psychologist, Psychoanalyst
"What is happening at Sony -- the thousands of private communications now made public -- should prove to us all that online privacy is an illusion. The embarrassment these executives are experiencing should make everyone cautious about what they say about other people in emails, especially if it is negative. Because online communications are no longer safe, it will likely have an impact on the sharing and development of productive ideas. Fear of intellectual property theft may keep some world-changing innovations from ever becoming reality. The silver lining to the Sony hacking scandal is that it will force more people to meet face-to-face to share sensitive information. Face-to-face communication is mentally healthy and is something that our culture has gotten so."
Based in the New York metropolitan area, Dr. Birnbaum is the author of "What Price Power: An In-Depth Study of the Professional Woman in a Relationship." She's an expert on depression, women's issues, and attaining happiness, and has been featured on "Oprah" and "20/20" as the oldest woman in the U.S. to have twins.
Media Contact: Ryan McCormick, [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/

Education Multimedia Journalist – Naples Daily News (FL)
Staff Writer – Village Voice (NY)
Personal Finance Writer – CNBC.com (NJ)

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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.

THE YEAR IN TWITTER CHATS: Every two weeks, ProfNet host a Twitter-based Q&A series we call #ConnectChat, which focuses on advice and information on issues facing journalism and PR professionals. This year, we've hosted chats on topics as varied as Twitter parties, humor writing, disclosure, food blogging, and achieving work/life balance. We know you likely weren't able to make it to all of the chats, so we put together this handy-dandy list of recaps from every #ConnectChat we hosted this year: http://prn.to/1zWqepA
MEDIA 411: THE TOP POSTS OF 2014: Each week, ProfNet's Evelyn Tipacti explores a media-related topic in her column, Media 411. In her last column of 2014, she shares the top 10 Media 411 posts from this year: http://prn.to/1DQy4oH
FIVE WAYS TO STAY CREATIVE IN THE WINTER: Are you finding your creativity starting to lag as the year comes to a close? Kevin Aschenbrenner of Jaffe PR shares some great tips on how you can tap into your creativity this winter: http://prn.to/13CEFD8

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