MEDIA RESOURCES

Cox In The News: First Quarter 2006

KDFW Ch. 4 (FOX)
Good Day Dallas at 8:00 a.m.
4/28/06
Finance Lecturer Mike Davis commented on the recent tax increase on cigarettes. “Tobacco taxes are paid by smokers and not the tobacco industry,” he said. “I’m not so sure it’s good policy to ask the lowest income people in your state to pay a disproportionate share of the taxes.” This broadcast also aired on Fox 4 News at Noon (4/28).

BusinessWeek Online
“Memo to students: Writing skills matter”
4/26/06
Paula Hill Strasser, director of the Business Leadership Center and the BBA Leadership Institute, explained the importance of good writing skills in business. "Students aren’t ready for today’s business environment,” she said, adding that “they’re lacking skills on how important the tone of the message is in the business world.”

The Associated Press
“Critics question Exxon executive pay”
4/15/06
Mel Fugate, assistant professor in the management and organizations department, commented on the compensation package awarded to former ExxonMobil CEO Lee R. Raymond. He said, “Some folks will ask the question, 'Is this more evidence of big oil taking an enormous windfall and retaining all the riches?’” Fugate added that Exxon is sending a “very, very bad signal” by allowing the former CEO to accept more than $150 million in a lump sum payout. This article ran in over 150 media outlets.

The Associated Press
"TI spends millions to sell TV technology to NASCAR fans”
4/10/06
Dan Howard, chair of the marketing department, commented on Texas Instruments' recent sponsorship of NASCAR’s Nextel Cup circuit. “These cars are very high-tech and very fast, which is the image TI wants for their products,'' he said. "The only downside is the risk of a catastrophe, like a crash and a death, which could have a negative rub-off on the company.'' This article appeared in several major newspapers, including The Dallas Morning News, Chicago Tribune, and the Los Angeles Times, as well as 80 other publications and Web sites.

KDFW Ch. 4 (FOX)
“Fox 4 News at 5:30”
4/10/06
Mike Davis, economics and finance professor, discussed the three reasons gas prices have increased lately. “There have been changes in the quantity of ethanol in the fuel and that is causing problems in the refining pipeline chain,” he said. “Some of the price increase is demand driven because we’re getting into the summer driving season and refineries have to build up their inventories. The third reason we’re seeing prices go up is essentially uncertainty.” This broadcast also appeared on Fox 4 News at 6 (4/10), Fox 4 News at 10 (4/10), Good Day Dallas at 7 (4/11), Good Day Dallas at 8 (4/11), and Fox 4 News at Noon (4/11).

The Dallas Morning News
“Finance majors drawing interest”
4/9/06
George Johnson, assistant dean of the MBA Career Management Center, discussed the job market in the business sector. He said, "There's demand in corporate finance. There's demand in commercial banking. There's demand in private wealth management. Even consulting and commercial real estate are strong right now, which is a change from last year."

The Dallas Morning News
“Sales and marketing grads are in demand”
4/9/06
Kim Holladay, director of BBA Career Services, commented on salaries for marketing majors. Current salaries range from the mid 30s to the low 40s, but “It's not so much your major – it's the industry that tends to determine the salary." she said.

The Dallas Morning News
”Troubled Radio Shack to close up to 700 stores”
2/19/06
Richard Mason, ITOM professor, commented on the “misstatements” made by Radio Shack’s President and CEO David Edmondson. After Edmonson's questionable behavior including misstatements on his resume, a DWI charge, and now financial trouble for his company, Mason commented that Edmondson may not have a place in Radio Shack’s future. "It's not totally precluded, but politically and appearance wise, it's unlikely that he will survive this," Mason said. This article also ran in the Seattle Times.

KXAS-TV Channel 5 (NBC)
DFW Today
2/17/06
Amit Basu, ITOM professor and department chair, commented on the increasingly popular game, Sudoku, and states that the game, centered around numbers, is a good workout for the mind.

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram
“Good news or bad first?”
2/8/06
John Slocum, chair of the management and organizations department, commented on the troubles faced by Pier 1 Imports’ CEO, Marvin Girouard. “Most turnaround people come from the outside,” he said. “You’re trying to find a spark, a new sense of direction. They bring a sense of urgency that insiders can’t match, because insiders have made too many side deals through the years.”

The Associated Press
“Push is on for LNG to boost supplies”
2/8/06
James Smith, the Cary M. Maguire Chair in Oil and Gas Management, commented on importing liquefied natural gas, or LNG. He mentioned that a gas cartel like the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)isn’t likely.

USA Today
“Super Bowl ad watchers make a run for the Web”
2/7/06
Dan Howard, chair of the marketing department, commented on the website traffic created by the Super Bowl commercials. When a consumer goes to a company’s website, “It greatly improves the odds of remembering the brand,” said Howard. This article also ran in The Arizona Business Gazette.

The Dallas Morning News
“Aviation audit could hurt Dallas’ borrowing ability”
2/6/06
Wayne Shaw, accounting professor and director of the KPMG Institute for Corporate Governance, commented on questions surrounding the Dallas Aviation Department’s accounting books. “It’s a big deal,” said Shaw. “It just suggests a breakdown somewhere in the system. Until you figure out what it is you’re not doing right in your system, you can never guarantee yourself that it won’t happen again.”

The Chicago Tribune
“Sandwiched, and in a pickle”
2/5/06
Ed Fox, marketing professor and director of the J.C. Penney Center for Retail Excellence, commented on how consumers are spending less on middle-market brands and retailers in order to spend more on other goods. When describing this ‘hourglass economy,’ he said, “You don’t want to be in the middle right now.”