The Week in Philly from KYW Newsradio

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Digital marketing is hard… unless? Aug 03, 2023

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Nonprofits are the glue to making the world a better place. Often they focus on issues like sustainability, health and wellness, and activism. But they need key resources to stay afloat. Enter, the Unless Project.It aims to help four local nonprofit organizations implement modern digital marketing strategies. Simon Rogers is the founder and CEO of A Little Better Company that’s piloting the program. He talks about how to apply, what the program will look like and the importance of innovative marketing.

The end of affirmative action: what does it mean for students? Aug 01, 2023

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On June 29, the Supreme Court, as was widely expected, effectively ended affirmative action, at colleges. What will this decision mean for students moving forward? How did the justices come to this decision? And, will this impact legacy admissions or the corporate world? Dr. Susan Liebell is a professor of political science at Saint Joseph's University. She takes a deeper look at the decision and talks about what it means for the future of college admissions.

The. Worst. President. Ever? Jul 27, 2023

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No matter who you ask, James Buchanan is always, without a doubt, considered to be one of the worst presidents in United States history. This tends to happen when you are in the Oval Office and do nothing to try and stop the outbreak of a civil war. But why did someone so fit for the job, fail so hard? Robert Strauss is the author of “Worst. President. Ever.: James Buchanan, the POTUS Rating Game, and the Legacy of the Least of the Lesser Presidents.” He discusses Buchanan’s presidency and what makes him the worst.

With such controversial SCOTUS cases, how are law professors reacting? Jul 25, 2023

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Last year, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, which gave women a constitutional right to an abortion. Last month, they gutted affirmative action which ended race-conscious admissions at colleges. In addition to the controversial decisions, it seems like key principles like standing and precedent, in some cases are being pushed aside. Is this a fair conclusion? We spoke with Laura Little, the James G. Schmidt Chair in Law at Temple University's Beasley School of Law, to get an answer and see if these recent decisions are changing the way professors teach the law.

Kids are missing too much school. How do we get them back? Jul 20, 2023

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Before the pandemic, about 8 million U.S. students were considered chronically absent during the school year. Now, that number has doubled. Students who are chronically absent often have lower test scores, fall behind, or even drop out at higher rates than others. Which students are most affected by chronic absenteeism? What can parents and schools do to help them? And, with other problems like graduation rates and teacher shortages, can absenteeism be fixed? Erica Peterson is the national education manager for School Innovations & Achievement. She discusses the importance of attending school and how this issue can help us reimagine our current school systems.

From Twitter to Threads, how is social media changing? Jul 18, 2023

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In June, several Reddit communities went dark in protest of new policy changes. Then, earlier this month, Twitter announced it would cap the number of tweets users can view. Now, Instagram released its new platform, Threads. With all of these changing social media platforms, what does this mean for the future of social media? What do users want from these new platforms? And, with there being so many places to post, how can we steer clear of disinformation? Derek Arnold is a senior instructor of communication at Villanova University and discusses what’s at stake with social media platforms changing.

Balancing work with life: can it actually be done? Jul 13, 2023

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The pandemic changed the way we look at work. The Great Resignation saw 50.5 million people quitting jobs in search of higher wages and remote work. Many people started prioritizing a healthy work-life balance and needed their jobs to reflect that. What does that look like? And, which people and populations are at the forefront of this? Thane Lawrie is the author of The Buddhist CEO. The fictional story is based on his own experience of trying to manage the stress of a CEO while finding the peace of a Buddhist. He discusses Western society’s obsession with hustle culture and what prioritizing work and life means for the future of labor.

A Russian paramilitary group rebelled - now what are the consequences? Jul 11, 2023

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A few weeks ago, Yevgeny Prigozhin - chief of the Russian paramilitary group, the Wagner Group - led a rebellion against Russia's military leadership. Things appear to have fizzled out, but there are a lot of questions left unanswered. Did this rebellion weaken President Putin and his allies? Will it have any effects on the war in Ukraine? What do Russian leaders and citizens think of Prigozhin’s criticism of the Russian military? And where exactly is Prigozhin now? We bring back two experts from Saint Joseph’s University - Dr. Melissa Chakars, Professor and Chair of the Department of History, and Dr. Lisa Baglione, Professor in the Political Science Department and a member of the International Relations Program - to break down the situation in Russia and whether or not it could lead to any change.

Can social media solve the Gen Z mental health crisis? Jul 06, 2023

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A recent study by the McKinsey Health Institute found that of the generations surveyed about the four dimensions of health: mental, physical, social and spiritual, Gen Zers were ranked worst across all categories. It also found that on average Gen Zers are more likely than other generations to cite negative feelings about social media, the Guardian reported. But is social media that bad? Can it offer positive solutions for Gen Z? And, do higher mental health rates just mean more people are talking about it? Alyssa Yiaski is a Masters's student in Psychology at Gwynedd Mercy University. She explains why Gen Z is so open to discussing mental health and the role social media plays.

A degree in…. cannabis?: Inside Delaware Valley University’s Cannabis Program Jul 04, 2023

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Industrial hemp can be found everywhere — in clothes, cosmetics and even automotive and construction fiberglass. But in the United States, the stigma surrounding hemp, and marijuana products in general, limit its use. Dr. Carla Garzon is the K.H. Littlefield Endowed professor of plant science at Delaware Valley University. She’s also the leader of their Cannabis Research Program. She explains what the program does and talks about the benefits of working with cannabis.

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