NEW YORK, Dec. 19, 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

• 'The Interview' and First Amendment Issues
• Activity Trackers Go Beyond Trendiness to Contribute to Overall Health
• Personal Finance Advice for Athletes
• More Teenagers Having Plastic Surgery to Take Better Selfies
• Selecting the Best Video Games for Your Children
• 'Quantified Self' Movement Helps Consumers Realize Better Long-Term Health
• How to Be 'Home-Smart' During the Winter
• 'The Interview' and First Amendment Issues

MEDIA JOBS

• Administrative Correspondent – Associated Press (LA)
• Senior Writer – Boston Globe Media (MA)
• Senior Reporter – Atlanta Journal-Constitution (GA)

OTHER NEWS & RESOURCES

• 10 Career Tips From Marie Claire's Editor-in-Chief
• How to Build Your Personal Brand
• Blog Profiles: Car Blogs

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:

'The Interview' and First Amendment Issues
Roy Gutterman
Director, Tully Center for Free Speech
Newhouse School, Syracuse University
"Sony's pulling of 'The Interview' is a sad development in this hacking controversy. This act of self-censorship is a blight on free expression and free speech. It sends the wrong message to critics and opponents to editorial, film or even offensive content. Rather than standing up for its content, Sony is bowing to vague, outside pressure to mute its artists and keep content from the public. Whether it is this spoof film, warzone reporting or investigative journalism, we have to stand up for artists and journalists rather than censor them."
Gutterman has a law degree and a degree in journalism and is an expert on First Amendment issues; he is the director of the Tully Center for Free Speech at Syracuse University. He is available to discuss censorship/freedom of speech as it relates to the Sony hack and the pulling of "The Interview."
ProfNet Profile: http://www.profnetconnect.com/roy_gutterman
Expert Contact: rsgutter@syr.edu
Media Contact: Wendy Loughlin, wsloughl@syr.edu

Activity Trackers Go Beyond Trendiness to Contribute to Overall Health
Dr. Christy Lane
Co-Founder and COO
Vivametrica
Some of the hottest wish list items this year are activity trackers, but how can consumers make sure these devices go beyond a fancy step counter and have a real impact on health and wellness? Recent research suggests a greater link between using wearable devices and improved health than ever before. Yet, people are inundated with data from wearable devices that they simply don't know how to use. Dr. Lane is a new mom, entrepreneur and medical researcher at Stanford University who has spent her career researching the science of exercise. She is also a cofounder of a new startup, Vivametrica, that analyzes the data from wearable devices and provides personal health assessments based on the individual's collected health information. Based in the Bay Area, Dr. Lane is available to discuss her prediction that in 2015 activity trackers will become more than trendy gifts, but actually improve consumers' health and behavior: "Positive interventions in one area have a cascading effect that can make a person healthier overall. These studies show that it is possible to overcome the vicious cycle of pain and inactivity that can lead to other health problems. By implementing e-health interventions using wearable devices, care providers can help patients create and follow through on long-term health goals. We're excited to continue validating the positive impact of wearable devices in healthcare."
Website: http://vivametrica.com
Media Contact: Brianna Galloway, brianna.galloway@nadelphelan.com

Personal Finance Advice for Athletes
Bijan Golkar, CFP
Vice President/Senior Advisor
FPC Investment Advisory, Inc.
"Baseball players are four times more likely to declare bankruptcy than the average American. And athletes in other sports are even worse off. Sports Illustrated estimated a few years ago that 78% of NFL players wind up in serious financial trouble within two years of retiring. Meanwhile 60% of NBA players go bust within five years after leaving the game, according to the magazine. This underscores how critical it is for athletes to receive objective financial advice."
Based in San Francisco, Golkar has been quoted in The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, U.S. News & World Report, Yahoo Finance, The Fiscal Times, Bankrate, MoneyUnder30.com, MainStreet.com, InvestmentNews.com, Physician's Money Digest, and DepositAccounts.com.
ProfNet Profile: http://www.profnetconnect.com/bijangolkar
Website: http://www.FPCWealth.com
Media Contact: Steve Garmhausen, Steve@AdvisorCopy.com

More Teenagers Having Plastic Surgery to Take Better Selfies
Dr. Frieda Birnbaum
Research Psychologist, Psychoanalyst
"This is a sad reflection on society, that our young adults feel more compelled (and even pressured) into plastic surgery to modify their external appearance. At this age of their life, they should be working on their internal composition, discovering who they really are and loving themselves for who they are. If teens don't love and accept themselves internally, no amount of plastic surgeries will ever be able to change that."
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, ryan@goldmanmccormick.com

Selecting the Best Video Games for Your Children
Richard Fiore
Game Art & Design/Visual Effects & Motion Graphics Instructor
The Illinois Institute of Art – Schaumburg
Kids love video games -- they're exciting, fun and engrossing. But what should parents know to make good game choices for their children? Says Fiore: "The thing that actually works now is the rating system. It is pretty accurate." He adds that while these ratings are accurate, it is up to the parent to pay attention to them. Fiore can speak to the types of games that are best for children at various stages. For very young children, he recommends tablets such as LeapFrog that are tactile and offer educational games. Children aged 6 and up can start to appreciate sandbox-type games such as "Minecraft." Games such as this, with very few limits, "really foster the kids' imaginations," says Fiore. "There's a whole process that kids need to learn to build and create. I think those games are way better, because you aren't simply racing a car or collecting coins or fighting." Fiore can also provide tips on the best consoles for children.
Fiore has taught game art and design for 15 years. He has also taught animation and visual effects and motion graphics. Prior to teaching, he served as VP of creative development at High Voltage Software and is currently a 3D modeler/light designer at Luma Studios.
Website: http://new.artinstitutes.edu/chicago
Media Contact: Mandy Wilson, manwilson@argosy.edu

'Quantified Self' Movement Helps Consumers Realize Better Long-Term Health
Colin Darretta
Founder & CEO
WellPath Solutions
"Companies like 23andMe are at the forefront of the idea that a consumer's approach to their health should be a deeply personal thing. By understanding their own genetic health risks, they can actively take action to lower both their chances of developing certain conditions and mitigate the effects of these conditions in the event they do occur. Publications like Fast Company and Nutrition Business Journal have been quick to point out that this change in how people think about their health and wellness signals a seismic shift in the industry. No longer do people look at generalized, population-wide statistics; instead, everything is unique to the individual. This trend toward personalized health and wellness has taken hold and become a hot-button topic of 2014, with nearly every adjacent industry preparing and launching products in an attempt to aid individuals in realizing better long-term health."
Darretta was recently profiled, featured in and interviewed by: Details Magazine ("24 Ways to Get in the Best Shape of Your Life") Forbes.com ("10 Ways to Create Investor Demand When Raising Money"), Well & Good ("These Vitamins Have Your Name Written All Over Them. Literally"), Business News Daily ("Shark Tank Survival: 20 Investment Tips for Entrepreneurs"), The Fashion Spot ("Fitness Pros on the Workout Tech Items They Can't Live Without"), Sotheby's Blog ("The Home Gym: The Latest Trends in Custom Designed Fitness Rooms"). Based in New York, he is available to discuss the Quantified Self movement and how that ties in with our ability to personalize our nutrition and healthcare, as well as trends that will shape 2015 and beyond within the intersection of technology, nutrition and consumer products.
ProfNet Profile: http://profnetconnect.com/colin_darretta
Expert Contact: colin@gowellpath.com

How to Be 'Home-Smart' During the Winter
Joe Torrillo
Fire Safety Expert
"The majority of home fires occur during the upcoming winter months of December and January (Christmas trees, humidifiers, heaters, holiday cooking, candles), and while many people have a smoke and carbon monoxide detector, less than 5 percent of homes have their alarm systems integrated with a monitored service; leaving them vulnerable and unaware of any possible emergencies while away from home."
Torrillo, a retired NYFD lieutenant and 9/11 survivor, educates people on the importance of fire safety with practical tips. He co-designed the fire safety learning center "The Fire Zone," located in Rockefeller Center, using his experience and straightforward common sense about fire safety to help motivate people to be educated, inspired, and take action to keep their homes and families safe from devastating fires. He is available to shine light on the unexpected fire hazards during the holidays and how quick fixes can make all the difference. For those traveling for the holidays, Torrillo can share the tips homeowners and renters should consider to keep their home safe when they aren't home. He can also give readers insight into products that can help detect problems like burst water lines to keep your home safe.
Website: http://www.joetorrillo.com
Media Contact: Allie Marsh, allie.marsh@zenogroup.com

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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/

• Administrative Correspondent – Associated Press (LA)
• Senior Writer – Boston Globe Media (MA)
• Senior Reporter – Atlanta Journal-Constitution (GA)

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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 at profnetalerts@prnewswire.com

• 10 CAREER TIPS FROM MARIE CLAIRE'S EDITOR-IN-CHIEF. On Nov. 22, NYWICI hosted its annual Student Communications Career Conference. Over the last week, ProfNet's Polina Opelbaum has been sharing highlights from some of the panels. Here, she shares highlights from the luncheon keynote, given by Marie Claire's editor-in-chief, Anne Fulenwider: http://prn.to/163U7sT
• HOW TO BUILD YOUR PERSONAL BRAND. At a recent NYWICI conference panel, Nicole Ryan of VH1's "Morning Buzz" and SiriusXM's "Morning Mashup"; Amy Cao of FiftyThree Inc. and Stupidly Simple Snacks; Kimmie Smith of Accessory Expert; Kris Ruby of Ruby Media Group; and freelance lifestyle journalist Aly Walansky share their tips for how to build your personal brand: http://prn.to/1vFLezo
• BLOG PROFILES: CAR BLOGS. Every week, PR Newswire's media relations manager, Christine Cube, profiles a handful of blogs that do a good job with promoting, contributing and blogging about an industry/subject. This week, she takes a look at a few car blogs: http://prn.to/1qq07Fh

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SOURCE ProfNet