Source: Forbes, T. (2016, July 15). Food Companies Rejoice Over
House's GMO Compromise Bill. Retrieved July 17, 2016, from
http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/280369/food-companies-rejoice-over-houses-gmo-compromise.html?edition=94671
Summary:
On July 14th, the government passed a law requiring foods that
contain GMO’s, to be labeled as such.
Heather Haddon from the Wall Street Journal explains, “The
bill will require labels to be reworked or updated to show whether any of the
ingredients had their natural DNA altered, but will take years to phase in and
will give companies the option of using straightforward language, digital
codes, or a symbol to be designed later.”
Opinions on the new law vary. Executive director of
the Center for Food Safety, Andrew Kimbrell, does not approve and says the new
law is “…a non-labeling bill disguised as a labeling bill...” Those with
similar opinions think that the bill is a step in the right direction, but just
not enough. Giving companies the option to hide behind a QR code or symbol
doesn’t provide full discretion to customers.
Others, like Wired
writer Sarah Zhang, think the QR codes are a good idea. The QR codes allow
for companies to send customers to a linked page, which would provide more
information than what would be able to be listed on a normal package.
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and
Medicine released a study in May that claimed that GMO foods are safe to eat.
MediaPost reported, however, that consumers still want GMO labels.
Importance:
From a PR standpoint, it will be interesting to watch
how the various food companies choose to represent themselves. Will consumers
stop eating popular foods that contain GMO’s when the information is released,
or will the information not have a large effect? Which companies will choose to
use a QR code, versus stating the information on the label? Companies that are
effected by the new labeling will have to either change recipes, or find new
ways to advertise and portray themselves. Foods that do not contain GMO’s may catch a
break. For example, as mentioned in the article, many people believe that
square shaped watermelons are genetically modified, but they are really just grown
in a box.
Source: Rogers, K. (2016, July 15). What Is a Constant Cycle of
Violent News Doing to Us? Retrieved July 17, 2016, from
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/16/health/what-is-a-constant-cycle-of-violent-news-doing-to-us.html?rref=collection/timestopic/Media
Summary:
New York Times just released an article on the effects
of the intense media coverage of violence. Psychologist Anita Gadhai- Smith
explains that the effects may be split. While some people may be traumatized by
the news, others are becoming desensitized.
Additionally, “a team of researchers
at the University of Bradford in England told a British psychology conference
last year that exposure to violent imagery on social media can cause symptoms
that are similar to post-traumatic stress disorder… The study also found that
people who view violent events more often were more affected than people who
saw them less frequently”
Suggests on dealing with the situation include
self-limiting your exposure to social media. Other suggestions to deal with the
anxiety include maintaining a daily routine and practicing healthy habits.
Importance:
This article shows the impact and influence that the
media has. News stations determine what is news-worthy and what is worth
reporting. With new technology such as Facebook Live and Twitter videos, profound
news is able to spread faster than ever. These platforms do allow for
discussion, though. Psychotherapists have been using Facebook Live to help
people through the tough situations.
