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Aston University researcher develops method of making lengthy privacy notices easier to understand

It has been estimated it would take 76 days per year to fully read privacy notices New method makes notices quicker and easier to understand by converting them into machine-readable formats Team designed a JavaScript Object Notation schema which allowed them to validate, annotate, and manipulate documents. An Aston University researcher has suggested a more human-friendly way of reading websites’ long-winded privacy notices. A team led by Dr Vitor Jesus has developed a system of making them quicker and easier to understand by converting them into machine-readable formats. This technique could allow the browser to guide the user through the document with recommendations or highlights of key points. Providing privacy information is one of the key requirements of the UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the UK Data protection Act but trawling through them can be a tedious manual process. In 2012, The Atlantic magazine estimated it would take 76 days per year to diligently read privacy notices. Privacy notices let people know what is being done with their data, how it will be kept safe if it’s shared with anyone else and what will happen to it when it’s no longer needed. However, the documents are written in non-computer, often legal language, so in the paper Feasibility of Structured, Machine-Readable Privacy Notices Dr Jesus and his team explored the feasibility of representing privacy notices in a machine-readable format. Dr Jesus said: “The notices are essential to keep the public informed and data controllers accountable, however they inherit a pragmatism that was designed for different contexts such as software licences or to meet the - perhaps not always necessary - verbose completeness of a legal contract. “And there are further challenges concerning updates to notices, another requirement by law, and these are often communicated off-band e.g., by email if a user account exists.” Between August and September 2022, the team examined the privacy notices of 50 of the UK’s most popular websites, from globally organisation such as google.com to UK sites such as john-lewis.com. They covered a number of areas such as online services, news and fashion to be representative. The researchers manually identified the notices’ apparent structure and noted commonly-themed sections, then designed a JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) schema which allowed them to validate, annotate, and manipulate documents. After identifying an overall potential structure, they revisited each notice to convert them into a format that was machine readable but didn’t compromise both legal compliance and the rights of individuals. Although there has been previous work to tackle the same problem, the Aston University team focused primarily on automating the policies rather than data collection and processing. Dr Jesus, who is based at the University’s College of Engineering and Physical Sciences said: “Our research paper offers a novel approach to the long-standing problem of the interface of humans and online privacy notices. “As literature and practice, and even art, for more than a decade have identified, privacy notices are nearly always ignored and ”accepted” with little thought, mostly because it is not practical nor user-friendly to depend on reading a long text simply to access, for example a news website. Nevertheless, privacy notices are a central element in our digital lives, often mandated by law, and with dire, often invisible, consequences.” The paper was published and won best paper at the International Conference on Behavioural and Social Computing, November 2023, now indexed at IEEE Xplore. The team are now examining if AI can be used to further speed up the process by providing recommendations to the user, based on past preferences.

Presidential Race Continues After Trump’s Guilty Verdict

Dr. Meena Bose, professor of political science, executive dean of the Public Policy and Public Service program, and executive director of the Kalikow Center for the Study of the American Presidency, was interviewed by Courthouse News about the guilty verdict in former President Donald Trump’s “hush money” trial and how it might impact voters this coming election. Trump is the first U.S. president to be charged with — and now convicted of — a crime “The presidency is the highest office in the land, and there is an expectation that presidents are supposed to represent kind of the best the United States has as far as character, leadership, responsibility,” said Dr. Bose. “And the convicted felon obviously doesn’t meet those expectations.” Dr. Bose added that Trump has proven himself repeatedly to be a “different candidate” from any other who has preceded him, primarily for his ability to evade career-crushing consequences since he first emerged on the presidential ticket in 2016. “Politically, other politicians would feel pressure to step aside,” she said. “But Donald Trump didn’t do so in 2016, he did everything he could to try and stay in office in 2020, and even after January 6 and an unprecedented second impeachment in 2021, ran for reelection and kind of effectively ended the primary contest very early without participating in a single primary debate.” Dr. Meena Bose is Executive Dean of Hofstra University’s Peter S. Kalikow School of Government, Public Policy and International Affairs. She is available to speak with media - simply click on her icon now to arrange an interview today.

#Experts in the Media: Cohen Testifies in “Hush Money” Trial

The trials of Donald Trump are making headlines across the country and media are looking for key experts to offer opinion, perspective and insight to just about every angle and witness that's playing a part of this legal and political narrative day after day. Professor of Law James Sample was interviewed on CNN International’s Quest Means Business and in The Atlantic about the Michael Cohen’s testimony in former President Trump’s criminal trial in New York. These trials are daily news and if you're a journalist working this story - then let us help. James Sample is a Professor of Law at Hofstra University and previously served as an attorney in the Democracy Program at the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law. James is available to speak with media - simply click on his icon now to arrange an interview today.

#Expert Insight: Biden and Trump Agree to Early Debates

Dean of the Lawrence Herbert School of Communication Mark Lukasiewicz was interviewed by Scripps Morning News about President Biden and former President Trump agreeing to debates on June 27 (CNN) and September 10 (ABC), to connect with voters ahead of traditional timelines. Dean Lukasiewicz shed light on how early voting influenced this development. This strategic move offers a unique advantage to both candidates and provides voters with unprecedented early access to the electoral discourse. The first debate is less than a month away - and if you're covering what might be the most watched political event this century - then let us help. Mark Lukasiewicz is a veteran producer, journalist, and media executive who has spent his professional career telling important stories to worldwide audiences and helping media organizations deal with transformational change. He's also the Dean at the The Lawrence Herbert School of Communication at Hofstra University and is available to speak with media regarding this important debate. Simply click on his icon now to arrange an interview today.

Spotlighting Success: How ExpertFile Amplifies Organizational Expertise

Whether you are an industry leader looking to maintain your reputational advantage or smaller organization looking to enhance your reputation, a structured expertise marketing program should be a critical component of your marketing strategy. Traditional thought leadership programs that often focus on a few key executives are now being broadened by a more strategic approach that leverages the hidden expertise within your entire team. Global research conducted by Ogilvy in its recent report “The Global Rise of B2B Influencer Marketing” shows that many organizations are now setting up programs with their employees as Brand Ambassadors to demonstrate thought leadership in specific niches where they have skills and insights that appeal to their audiences. These employees have expertise that is often more relatable and authentic. Using social media platforms like LinkedIn, and networks such as ExpertFile, they can further amplify expert content to cut through the content marketing noise and drive more targeted engagement with media, sales prospects and other audiences. “Your employees are typically your most valuable resource. Identifying your employees that can be influencers themselves is a huge missed opportunity for one of the biggest ROI’s of all time.” James Baldwin Global B2B Influence Lead, Ogilvy To capitalize on this trend, many organizations are turning to more advanced solutions that deliver new digital publishing, distribution and workflow capabilities that extend the capabilities of their CMS (Content Marketing Systems). This also empowers clients and their agencies to achieve more efficiency and scale by better managing of employee content and audience interactions. The results include improved SEO PageRank and improved generative search results, increased site traffic and more qualified media inquiries and sales leads.   Here are a few examples: With the ExpertFile platform, Vanderbilt University has streamlined its media interactions and presented more comprehensive information on their faculty enabling journalists to discover the depth of research and expertise that Vanderbilt has to offer for their stories. This provides a valuable boost of inbound inquires that help Vanderbilt stay top of mind, going beyond outbound media pitches. View Expert Center About Vanderbilt University is a distinguished private research institution known for academic excellence and innovation. With a rich history spanning over a century, it cultivates leaders, conducts pioneering research, and contributes significantly to society. Seeking to enhance its reputation and broaden its influence, ChristianaCare completely revamped its approach to showcasing their medical experts. Their Media Expert Center powered by ExpertFile doubled national media coverage,, earning the esteemed IABC Silver and Gold Awards for this exceptional communications strategy. ChristianaCare later established a Speakers Bureau to expand its program with ExpertFile, saving hundreds of operational hours and surpassing engagement targets by 400%. This innovative approach reinforced ChristianaCare's brand visibility, reputation while demonstrating its commitment to community service. View Experts Center View Speakers Bureau About ChristianaCare is a leading healthcare institution committed to delivering exceptional patient care and advancing medical research. With a focus on innovation and compassion, they strive to empower healthier lives and transform healthcare experiences for individuals and families across the region. With a goal of driving market visibility and increasing media coverage, University of Delaware leveraged the ExpertFile platform to regularly published research and insights related to topical news events, while also making it easy for journalists to connect with their faculty as media sources. Within the first 90 days, the university garnered 80 inquiries, capturing the interest of prestigious media outlets such as CNN, NBC, Newsweek, AP, Bloomberg, among others. This activity was made possible with ExpertFile’s automation, distribution and workflow features and seamless no-code integration with the client website. It all added up to massive results with no need to add internal resources to the University of Delaware team. View Expert Center About The University of Delaware is a renowned institution committed to academic excellence, innovation and community engagement. With a rich history and dedication to student success, it strives to advance knowledge and foster global citizenship through transformative education and research. Amidst a competitive educational market in the US Northeast, the University of Connecticut (UCONN) chose ExpertFile to help it amplify its faculty expertise and boost inbound inquiries from media, conferences, researchers and student prospects. The result is a more intuitive way to discover expertise and research across the UCONN campus that helps drive valuable connections that are vital to building institutional reputation and communicating the UCONN mission. View Expert Center About Amidst a competitive educational market in the US Northeast, the University of Connecticut (UCONN) chose ExpertFile to help it amplify its faculty expertise and boost inbound inquiries from media, conferences, researchers and student prospects. The result is a more intuitive way to discover expertise and research across the UCONN campus that helps drive valuable connections that are vital to building institutional reputation and communicating the UCONN mission. The Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) has consistently been rated as one of the most valued brands in the country. It’s focus on thought leadership by sharing its unique expertise on topics including “Canada’s Worst Roads” and “Cannabis at the Wheel” have helped them educate their membership, boost media visibility and advocate for important policy changes with government. The ExpertFile platform provides a central content platform enabling CAA to cost-effectively publish news releases and publish stories and expert profiles to multiple regional websites, all from a intuitive, centralized dashboard. View Expert Center About The Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) advocates for motorists and offers essential services to members nationwide, ensuring safer and more convenient travel. With a trusted legacy, CAA remains committed to enhancing drivers' experiences across Canada. ExpertFile has streamlined the presentation and management of faculty directories with integration into over 20 sections of the Loyola Marymount University LMU website. With a robust collection of over 1,000 faculty profiles, this integration has not only provided a better way to present faculty directories but also delivered over 1 million expert views and generated thousands of media, academic collaboration and student prospect inquiries while enhancing engagement and accessibility to expertise across the university community. Faculty Directories About Loyola Marymount University (LMU) is a private university located in Los Angeles, California. Known for its rigorous academic programs, diverse community, and commitment to social justice. With a goal to attaining R1 research institution status, Villanova University aimed to boost the visibility of its faculty experts and showcase its commitment to academic excellence and knowledge advancement. It needed a way to better manage and leverage a lot of expert faculty research and information. With ExpertFile, the Villanova communications team now has a much easier way to publish and update faculty content that seamlessly integrates with the University website and also appears on the ExpertFile network searched by thousands of journalists looking for credible media sources. It all adds up to more market visibility and brand reputation with valuable audiences connecting with Villanova experts. View Expert Center About Villanova University, founded on Catholic principles, is a renowned research institution committed to academic excellence and ethical leadership. Grounded in its rich heritage, Villanova fosters a community of learning that embraces diversity and promotes the pursuit of truth and social justice. Carnegie Mellon University needed a better way to profile their expert faculty in the best possible way to meet the highest standards and researchers by launching a new Experts Center within 30 days. Their objective was to enhance both the appearance and functionality of underperforming faculty expert content areas, thereby better aligning them with the institution's prominence. Through use of the ExpertFile platform and collaboration with ExpertFile team, profiles were developed and integrated, meeting tight deadlines and resulting in a more polished and easily discoverable experience for those seeking expertise. Expert Center About Carnegie Mellon University is a prestigious institution celebrated for its pioneering research and interdisciplinary education. With a legacy of innovation, it remains at the forefront of shaping global education and technology. As a leading public research institution, the University of Florida aimed to enhance its capacity to connect experts with media opportunities. Faced with a challenging and proprietary content platform , the institution needed to provide a more user-friendly way for journalists to engage with faculty and research experts. Aligned with its mission of fostering academic collaboration and knowledge dissemination, University of Florida communications and digital team completely transformed its online presence using the ExpertFile platform. By prioritizing discovery, accessibility and user experience, their team has elevated the visibility and impact of their faculty research and expertise. View Expert Center About The University of Florida, a Top 10 public research institution in the US, fosters excellence in research, education, and service within a diverse community of scholars. Through collaboration and interdisciplinary initiatives, UF empowers students to drive positive change. Aston University in the UK aimed to elevate its online presence and showcase its faculty expertise effectively across various communities. Seeking to enhance SEO, generate valuable inquiries, humanize research and ultimately improve reputation and ranking, they turned to ExpertFile. Aston University now has a more intuitive, efficient way to profile its faculty and research and increase the awareness of its research with a more diverse global audience through ExpertFile. View Research Experts About Aston University is a prestigious institution renowned for its dedication to innovation and academic excellence. With a rich history of shaping future leaders and conducting cutting-edge research, Aston University continues to inspire and empower students to thrive in a globalized world To build more market visibility and engagement with its target audience, Western Carolina University (WCU) needed a more intuitive way to present its expertise. ExpertFile enabled them to quickly deploy a searchable directory of faculty experts and then focus on creating shareable expert content on their website and on the broader ExpertFile network to boost visibility. To further boost engagement, WCU has published regular posts complete with faculty interviews and vertical video clips for social media. These programs have helped raise the profile of WCU. boosted internal and external engagement and has been very well received by faculty. . View Expert Center About Western Carolina University (WCU) is dedicated to delivering outstanding higher education, fostering innovation, and inspiring students to realize their full potential through academic excellence and community engagement. In California's competitive academic environment, UC Irvine needed to boost the visibility of its strong expert faculty while leverage the resources of a small communications team. ExpertFile’s user-friendly platform including customizable workflows and automated tools for adding expert content to their website made showcasing experts easy. Being able to create detailed media-rich profiles and quickly share expert insights allowed UC Irvine to stand out among larger rivals and increase their media coverage. All without straining their resources. View Expert Center About UC Irvine is a leading public research institution known for its top-ranked academic programs and cutting-edge research initiatives. With a focus on innovation and diversity, UC Irvine is committed to advancing knowledge and addressing society's most pressing challenges. Multiple integrations across research and newsroom sections have significantly streamlined the presentation and management of expert content at Goizueta Business School at Emory University. A more efficient system with delegated permissions has increased internal collaboration, and custom training resources for faculty and staff boost engagement on the platform. The ExpertFile team also provides a range of services such as content updates to save Goizueta valuable time while ensuring its website remains current and engaging, for students, faculty, and visitors alike. View Expert Center About Emory University's Goizueta Business School is a prestigious institution renowned for its innovative curriculum and exceptional faculty. With a focus on experiential learning and global perspective, Goizueta prepares students to become transformative business. Showcasing the expertise at Southern Utah University has been a key strategy for its marketing team. While not having the advantage of being in a major media market, SUU understood they needed to be more innovative in developing thought leadership and positioning their expertise to build their brand. The ExpertFile platform with its advanced content features allows the SUU team to present a more engaging view of their faculty and their research. It’s helped them boost search rank and garner national media attention, plus it has also helped them engage student prospects. View Expert Center About Southern Utah University fosters student success and personal development through diverse academic programs and resources. Emphasizing innovation, inclusivity, and community engagement, SUU creates a dynamic learning environment for student achievement and societal contributions. As a top ranked institution, The Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Engineering wanted to make its faculty research and insights stand out. Just designing a standard faculty directory didn’t meet the mark. ExpertFile enabled VCU to optimize its content resulting in a major improvement in SEO PageRank and website engagement. This improved experience has also boosted inbound inquiries for media sources, academic collaborations and student prospects looking for information on the VCU’s programs. View Expert Center About Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) is a premier urban, public research university committed to advancing knowledge and improving the human experience. With a diverse community of students, faculty, and staff, VCU fosters innovation, creativity and collaboration. As a recognized R1 research university, the communications team at Michigan State had the goal to better convey the strength of its faculty research in an effort to boost regional and national media coverage. With the ExpertFile platform their team was able to design a custom implementation fully integrated into the MSU website and streamline the content management and updates to hundreds of faculty profiles - all managed from an intuitive centralized dashboard that saves time for the MSU team. View Expert Center About Michigan State University, a leading public research institution, top in graduate school rankings, is dedicated to advancing knowledge and transforming lives through its commitment to excellence in education, research, and outreach. As a relatively new institution, Augusta University, the fourth largest university in the state of Georgia had a goal stand out by showcasing the expertise of its faculty and the medical staff within Augusta Healthcare - one of the state’s largest integrated health systems. The communications team at Augusta leveraged the ExpertFile platform, publishing more comprehensive expert profiles. Plus they released regular expert updates that demonstrated the relevance of their experts on topical news stories. The result was a huge boost in SEO PageRank plus regional and national media coverage. All without the need to add resources to their communications team. View Expert Center About Augusta University, a leading academic institution, combines excellence in education, research, and healthcare. With an integrated health system, it fosters innovation, advances knowledge, and improves the well-being of communities locally and globally. As an R1 institution based in New Orleans, Tulane University has many specialized programs led by their world-class researchers and faculty. The Tulane marketing team wanted to better showcase this faculty expertise to drive media coverage while designing a system that worked best for their faculty. Leveraging the ExpertFile Platform, they created a searchable online hub showcasing participating faculty experts offering more engaging faculty profiles complete with multimedia features and a more intuitive way for journalists to connect to Tulane media sources. View Expert Center About Tulane University, a renowned institution in New Orleans, fosters innovative research, academic excellence, and community engagement. With a rich history of interdisciplinary collaboration, it prepares students to lead and serve in a complex global society. Are you looking to join the many organizations that are leveraging their employee subject-matter experts as part of a thought leadership and content marketing program? Then consider how you will manage and scale this effort with solutions designed specifically for expertise marketing. ExpertFile has advanced content creation and management tools, customizable workflows, powerful search capabilities, AI features, and flexible integration options, all connected to a broad network of media and speaking opportunities. By streamlining the management and promotion of online expert profiles, we ensure each organization connects with their key audiences like journalists, potential clients, event organizers and many others. Tailored for various industries, ExpertFile addresses each client's unique needs, driving meaningful engagement and visibility for the organization. The spotlights above are just a small sample of how ExpertFile works with leading organizations every day to enhance expertise and broaden their market reach. Explore industry-specific benefits to learn how ExpertFile can help your organization enhance its market presence and thought leadership. Want to learn more? Visit expertfile.com/getstarted.

A Look back at Northern Ireland: 50th Anniversary of the Sunningdale Agreement Collapse

The collapse of the Sunningdale Agreement is a pivotal moment in the history of Northern Ireland, highlighting the complexities and challenges of achieving peace and political stability in a deeply divided society. This event matters to the public as it underscores the ongoing struggle for reconciliation and the importance of political dialogue in resolving conflicts. The collapse of the agreement provides numerous compelling story angles for journalists to explore, appealing to a broad audience: The historical context and key factors leading to the Sunningdale Agreement Analysis of the political and social dynamics that led to the collapse of the agreement Personal narratives and testimonies from individuals affected by the events surrounding the agreement The impact of the Sunningdale Agreement collapse on subsequent peace processes in Northern Ireland Comparative analysis of the Sunningdale Agreement with the Good Friday Agreement Reflections on the lessons learned from the Sunningdale Agreement and their relevance to contemporary peace efforts globally As we reflect on the collapse of the Sunningdale Agreement, journalists have an opportunity to delve into these multifaceted narratives, shedding light on the complexities of peacemaking and the enduring quest for stability in Northern Ireland. Connect with an Expert about the History of Northern Ireland: Michael Curran, PhD The Diana and Thomas Klein '84 Assistant Professor of Economics | Villanova School of Business · Villanova University Dr Dannielle Green Senior Lecturer in Ecology · Anglia Ruskin University Timothy Shanahan, Ph.D. Professor of Philosophy · Loyola Marymount University Alan Barr Rector · Church of Ireland Rector, Author and Local historian living in Northren Ireland To search our full list of experts visit www.expertfile.com Photo Credit: The Irish News

Ready for takeoff! The Starliner is set for its first mission to the ISS

Since 2011, any American astronaut looking to get to or from the International Space Station (ISS) had to lift off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, a spaceport operated by Russia within Kazakhstan. It was the only way to get up into space - for now. It's why almost a decade ago private sector companies Boeing and SpaceX were engaged by NASA to develop a new way to get to the ISS from American soil.  All of that is about to change, and all eyes have been on Boeing's Starliner as it readies to take flight with a crew for the first time. Florida's Tech's Don Platt , the Director of the Spaceport Education Center, has also been busy as the media coverage has been intense. “In this case, NASA is truly buying a service and it’s up to the company to get it all right. With just some oversight," said Don Platt, of Florida Tech. Starliner rolled out to Launch Complex 41 in the early morning on Tuesday. It will be positioned atop a ULA Atlas 5 rocket for the planned liftoff on May 6 from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. As Platt explained, Starliner is a critical second option for NASA. “With all the success of SpaceX has had recently, we can’t simply rely on SpaceX to provide all services to the American space program," Platt said. This is the first flight of Starliner with a crew onboard so it’ll be the first time for it to fly in this configuration. During these test missions, there are always lessons to be learned. “We are all aware of some of the issues the Boeing company has experienced in the last couple of years. And to have a successful test flight here with astronauts onboard is a definite plus from PR aspect,” Platt said. Two seasoned NASA astronauts will be the first to take a ride in Starliner up to the ISS; Suni Williams and Barry “Butch” Wilmore. They’ll be up there for eight days on this test mission and if all goes well, the first Starliner mission on NASA crew rotation up to the ISS will come next spring. -- April 16 - NBC News Getting to the ISS, Moon and even Mars are getting a lot of attention lately. If you're a journalist look to cover the topic, let us help. Dr. Don Platt's work has involved developing, testing and flying different types of avionics, communications, rocket propulsion systems as well as astrobiology/biotechnology systems and human deep space exploration tools. Don is available to speak with media anytime. Simply click on the icon below to arrange an interview today.

How misinformation spreads online and shapes behavior

With the Internet as a font of information, particularly during a major crisis or conflict, a simple Google search can produce a stream of conjecture, conspiracy and alternative facts. Then there’s the firehose of “news” flooding social media feeds. By headlines alone, it’s near impossible to separate wheat from chaff. Coupled with that user frustration is a vulnerability to bad actors who push agendas under the guise of news. Indeed, on its worst days, the internet is a disinformation machine. Understanding that dynamic and its impact on our moods and behavior is NJIT’s Julie Ancis, a behavioral psychologist who’s a pioneer in the field of cyberpsychology. Her research examines how disinformation spreads and shapes how we act online and in person. As she explains on her blog for Psychology Today: “The speed and flow of information online has enabled information to be transferred on a mass global scale, galvanizing social movements such as the Arab Spring, Occupy Wall Street and #MeToo. In short, the ways in which we consume information and communicate with others both locally and globally have fundamentally changed.” To interview Ancis, click on the button below.

Food is Medicine: ‘It’s Not Just About Food–It’s About Friendship

Kim Solomon’s kitchen showed all the signs of a good lunch in the making – chopped veggies on the counter, a few dirty dishes in the sink and two people laughing as they cooked. “Don’t worry, we’re going to clean all this up,” ChristianaCare community health worker Michelle Torres, BBA-HM, said as she sliced tilapia for the heart-healthy fish tacos she was making with Solomon. “I’m not worried about the mess, especially when it tastes this yummy,” Solomon said as she watched Torres place the raw fish – coated with panko crumbs, spices and an egg wash – into the air fryer. A few years earlier, Solomon’s lunch would have been something quick from the pantry after cooking for her sons or helping a neighbor. But after dealing with the life-threatening effects of high blood pressure, she is learning – with Torres’ help – how to prioritize her own nutrition and health. Solomon is one of more than 225 patients enrolled in the Delaware Food Farmacy, a ChristianaCare partnership with Lutheran Community Services that provides weekly deliveries of locally sourced produce, meat and other foods, along with one-on-one support from a community health worker. Delaware Food Farmacy participants report lower A1C blood glucose levels, healthier blood pressure readings and reduced body mass index. Dishing out good health “It took me getting very sick to finally make my own health a priority in my life, and that’s a humbling experience,” said Solomon, who lives in Bear, Delaware. “This is not just about food – it is about friendship, and Michelle’s support really gives me motivation. It keeps me excited to hear her voice and know that she’s there for me.” Kim Solomon (left) finds prioritizing her own nutrition and health can be delicious, as she prepares panko-crusted tilapia for fish tacos with community health worker Michelle Torres. ChristianaCare is expanding efforts to reduce food insecurity among patients in an ongoing commitment to ending disparities and in recognition that access to nutritious food is critical to overall health. In addition to the Delaware Food Farmacy, over 100 Maryland Primary Care Program (MDPCP) patients are participating in Healthy Food, Healthy Hearts, a 12-week program that delivers fresh groceries to under-resourced Medicare patients with complex health needs. “Our focus is empowering people to maintain their health by giving them the resources they need for whole-person care, including healthy food and education related to meal preparation and living with a chronic health condition,” said Erin Booker, LPC, chief biopsychosocial officer for ChristianaCare. “Through our work with our community partners in the Food Farmacy program in Delaware and our Healthy Food, Healthy Hearts program in Maryland, we are acknowledging the intersection of nutrition and health care and the importance of creating a more equitable food system.” Food is Medicine Both programs operate on the Food Is Medicine model, which recognizes that nutritious foods are essential for good health – and they must be accessible in the community, particularly in under-resourced areas. Studies have shown that evidence-based, tailored food interventions can lead to improved health outcomes and better use of health care services among participants while also reducing food insecurity, said Michelle Axe, MS, CHES, program manager of Food and Social Care Initiatives for ChristianaCare. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated in 2023 that food insecurity results in nearly $77 billion in excess health care spending. Veggie power: Much of the food in the Food Farmacy is sourced locally through a cooperative agreement with Delaware’s Department of Agriculture and the Farm-to-Community Program, which connects local farms with organizations distributing food to the community. Among Food Farmacy graduates, 26% report a decrease in food insecurity and 18% said they experience less anxiety. “With these programs, we’re offering participants an opportunity to make a change in their life, not only for them as individuals, but for the entire family,” Axe said. “This is about more than food.” From farm to table Getting health care professionals to prescribe healthier food options – and then making it possible for the patients to obtain them – helps close the gap between medical nutrition and financial health, said Rob Gurnee, executive director of Lutheran Community Services. “Providing food – that’s our core competency,” Gurnee said. “What really makes this program different and incredibly valuable is that ChristianaCare can funnel the right people into the program and then maintain these relationships to help patients make changes that are sustainable. Together, we utilize the strengths of our organizations with the goal of improving health outcomes.” Each week, Delaware Food Farmacy participants select from a menu of fresh produce, lean meats and fish, whole grains, low-fat dairy, snacks and other healthy items, all of which fall under the Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet. Fresh-picked: With Delaware Food Farmacy, patients are getting local produce that is typically picked within 24 to 48 hours. Much of the food distributed through Delaware Food Farmacy is sourced locally through a cooperative agreement with Delaware’s Department of Agriculture and the Farm-to-Community Program, which connects local farms with organizations distributing food to the community. Solomon’s refrigerator is filled with local produce, eggs and lean meats from the Food Farmacy program, but it’s Torres who keeps Solomon on the path to good health with her encouraging personality and a tasty supply of easy-to-make recipes. A recipe for healthy eating: Air Fryer Fish Tacos. Kim Solomon’s review? “Yummy.” “She’s there to support you and help you understand it’s going to be OK,” Solomon said. “She goes above and beyond every time. We need more Michelles in our world.”

Major League Baseball celebrates Jackie Robinson Day | Media Advisory

Today professional baseball commemorate Jackie Robinson Day, where the league, players and fans across the world not only honor a baseball legend but also celebrate a pivotal moment in the ongoing struggle for racial equality and social justice. This day marks Robinson's historic debut in Major League Baseball on April 15, 1947, breaking the sport's color barrier and paving the way for future generations. Beyond its significance in sports history, Jackie Robinson Day serves as a reminder of the enduring impact of one individual's courage and determination in challenging systemic racism. Key story angles for journalists to explore include: Legacy of Jackie Robinson: Reflecting on his contributions to sports and civil rights activism. Continuing fight for racial equality in sports: Examining current initiatives and challenges in promoting diversity and inclusion. Impact of Robinson's legacy beyond baseball: Exploring his influence on other fields such as business, politics, and social activism. Diversity in Major League Baseball today: Assessing progress and remaining barriers for minority players and personnel. Educational initiatives inspired by Jackie Robinson: Highlighting programs that use his legacy to teach lessons of tolerance, resilience, and leadership. Intersection of sports and social justice: Investigating how athletes and sports organizations continue to advocate for change on and off the field. Connect with an Expert about Jackie Robinson For journalists with questions or looking to cover the history of Jackie Robinson and how he changed the game, here is a select list of experts. To search our full list of experts visit www.expertfile.com Curt Smith Senior Lecturer · University of Rochester Christopher Philips Associate Professor · Carnegie Mellon University Michael Lewis Professor of Marketing· Emory University, Goizueta Business School Mark Feinsand Sports Reporter · New York Daily News Photo Credit: The New York Public Library