Profnets of the Week

by admin ~ December 12, 2008

It’s time again to take a look at some of the strange and/or interesting stories being written about this week - thanks to Profnet, a service that sends us journalist queries and calls for sources dozens of times throughout the day. Enjoy!
 

BEHAVIOR/TODAY: Robot That Does Everything — New York Daily News
A 33-year-old computer geek too busy for romance has built himself a robot with an hourglass figure who speaks two languages and does, well, almost everything. I would love to get feedback on what would move someone to do this — and whether it’s possible to ever find love with a robot. If not love, then what is it possible to find? Contact: XXXXX, xxxxxxx@nydailynews.com
 

RELIGION: Has Hanukkah Become Hip? — Cloaked
A journalist with a Midwest daily sends the following query: Over the past two decades, Hanukkah has moved from a mid-level Jewish holiday that usually got token attention to almost a full-blown cultural phenomenon — at least in secular American pop culture. Perhaps starting with Adam Sandler’s Hanukkah song (and its reprises) in the early 1990s, Hanukkah has become more and more prominent in our nation’s culture and more accepted. There’s Jon Stewart singing about it on Comedy Central. There’s Marge Simpson in an episode of “The Simpsons” shopping at Shlomo’s Judaica Dreidel Blowout Sale. Over on Sirius/XM Radio, an entire channel will play Hanukkah music starting the evening of the Dec. 21. And, there are plenty of other examples. I’m working on an article on the emergence of Hanukkah in our culture and would love to talk to experts on the subject. What has happened to Hanukkah along the way? Why is this emergence happening now? What’s fueling it? What does it mean for American Jews? For Christmas-celebrating folks? Now that Hanukkah is becoming a parallel to Christmas, how does that affect the holiday’s meaning in Jewish life? What are some other examples of Hanukkah’s emergence? Can Hanukkah be called “hip”? [This reporter has asked us to withhold his name and contact information and to direct all responses to his ProfNet inbox.]
 

PARENTING: What Should Parents Say About Santa? — St. Joseph News-Press (MO)
I am looking for professional or religious opinions about telling kids about Santa. What should parents say if children ask if there really is a Santa? Contact: xxxxxxxxxx, xxxxxxx@npgco.com
 

SAFETY/TODAY: Holiday Hazards — Quality Health
I’m a writer for Qualityhealth.com, a top 10 comScore health destination. I’m writing a story to be featured in one of our newsletter e-mails, which reach a huge audience. The topic is “Top 8 Holiday Hazards and How to Avoid Them.” I’m thinking along the lines of Xmas trees, decorations, poisonous holiday plants (poinsettias, etc.). I’m looking for quotes via e-mail. Contact: xxxxxxxxxx, xxxxxx@mtscorp.com
 

POP CULTURE: Media Influence on Sarcastic Teens — Freelancer
For a piece in a national women’s magazine, I’m looking for a quick comment from a media expert who can talk about how sarcastic, snarky TV characters and other role models in the media influence tweens and teens. Also, why is the media (TV, movies, pop music) aimed at tweens/teens seemingly so saturated with sarcastic dialogue, etc.? Do kids get a sense of sophistication, or feel more grown-up when they copy sarcastic celebrities and TV characters? What’s the long-term effect on kids’ communication skills? Contact: xxxxxxxx, xxxxx@aol.com