Television is swaying career choices for college students, two Ball State educators told the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette for an Oct. 20 story.

The newspaper reported that students are clamoring to get into certain academic programs after seeing their future careers on "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," "FBI Files" or "Trading Spaces."

Dom Caristi said that is where television's power lies.

"People become aware of a profession that maybe they didn't even know existed before that show," he said. "'JAG' is a real-life example. I don't think most Americans knew what a judge advocate general was. Now you have a number of people in the military lining up to be one. All because of one show."

People were attracted to law and medical professions in the 1970s, Caristi said, because of the number of programs based on those professions.

"Its influence comes from its omnipresence," Caristi said. "It's in every home. It's in everyone's life. It is true (that) more homes in America have TVs than indoor toilets."

Not every show spawns a surge in career interest.

"I don't think we had a whole bunch of people running out and becoming lifeguards after ‘Baywatch,'" Caristi said.

But Janet Fick said "Trading Spaces" is driving students to enroll in Ball State's interior design program.

"When I ask new or prospective students if they watch ‘Trading Spaces,' every hand goes up," Fick said. "It's grown leaps and bounds. That's why I'm here."

The downside, she said, is that television gives students a distorted view of many careers.

"They think it's just picking out colors," Fick said. "Our job is to explain the whole process… but I don't get many that drop out."

Terry Heifetz, NewsLink Indiana managing editor

Broadcasting and Cable magazine's "Station Break" on Oct. 20 spotlighted Ball State's NewsLink Indiana project.               

Terry Heifetz said NewsLink Indiana will combine veteran commercial broadcasting professionals and students. Other news professionals joining Heifetz are Chris Bavender as news anchor, Wright Bryan as Web editor and Tim Underhill as production manager.

NewsLink Indiana will integrate television, radio, newspaper, cable and online news operations.

"No one really knows what convergence is, but in a college environment the beauty of this is that you can experiment," Heifetz said.

Judith Burns Lowe, family and consumer sciences professor

Children can enjoy a healthy Halloween with a little moderation, Judith Burns Lowe told the Lafayette Journal and Courier Oct. 21.

All it takes is for parents to be "creative in teaching children that to use anything in excess can cause serious problems," Lowe said.

"Parents are in charge of what children have available to eat," she said.

Her advice on moderation also applies to parents.

"Don't limit your children's snacking, only to be caught eating a hidden stash of goodies," Lowe said.

Children are less likely to devour their treats immediately if they eat a well-balanced meal before trick-or-treating, Lowe said. More exercise after Halloween can help burn excess calories, she added.

James Lowry, marketing and management professor

James Lowry's Halloween sales predictions were part of the "Postscript" in the Syracuse (N.Y.) Post Standard's Oct. 12 edition. Lowry predicted the average American household would spend more than the $45 it shelled out in 2002 for candy, costumes and decorations.

Ray Scheele, political science professor

Ray Scheele offered insight on "the selling of candidates" to the Marion Chronicle Tribune for an Oct. 12 report.

He said studies have shown that novelty items like pencils, buttons and stickers are less effective than radio, television or newspaper ads.

"In local races, name recognition is extremely important," Scheele said. "Yard signs are effective ways of doing that."

However, people who have signs in their yards may not actually vote.

"Yard signs are not an accurate poll of voter intentions, (but) it is certainly an effective way to boost name recognition," Scheele said.

And, he said, political advertising differs from normal advertising.

"There's the old saying that you sell a candidate just like you sell soap," Scheele said. "But that's just not true. Soap is a product that doesn't have to talk and persuade people or get on a debate stand and debate an opponent."