ProfNet Sources Available on the Facebook IPO, Romney's Tax Returns, More

Also in This Edition: Jobs for Writers and Media Industry Blog Posts

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EXPERT ALERTS

• Facebook Files for IPO
• Romney Tax Returns Intensify Debate
• Staged to Sell
• Employee Anti-Poaching Agreements Illegal
• Energy-Saving Innovations That Make a Difference
• Employee Motivation
• Online Marketing
• Homeowners Reap Major Savings From Home Energy Efficiency

MEDIA JOBS

• Editorial Director - NYC
• Health Care Editor - Chicago
• Street Reporter - Washington, D.C.
• Associate Development Editor - Avon, Mass.

OTHER NEWS & RESOURCES

• Interesting Expert of the Week, Super Bowl Edition
• Grammar Hammer: The Super Bowl! Rules on Exclamation Points
• Freelance Focus: Getting Started in Freelancing
• Upcoming #ConnectChat: How to Increase Brand Influence on Social Media

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EXPERT ALERTS

Expert Alerts are listings of ProfNet members who are available to discuss timely news topics. If you are interested in interviewing any of the experts, please contact their media representative at the end of the listing. You can also find Expert Alerts online at http://bit.ly/pncalerts

Facebook Files for IPO
Scott Smart
Finance Professor
Indiana University Kelley School of Business
Smart is an expert on IPOs, M&As and corporate governance, and is available to discuss Facebook's IPO filing. Smart believes Facebook is likely to file for a dual-class structure, which generally trades lower than when firms use the more traditional "one-share, one-vote" model: "IPOs that use a dual-class structure generally have a smaller first-day 'pop' than other IPOs, although Facebook's popularity may prove an exception. Dual-class structures can serve to entrench poor managers. Under a 'one-share, one-vote' model, there is a correlation between a firm's performance and turnover in the executive suite. Under dual-class firms, that correlation is practically non-existent, suggesting that poorly performing executives do not face the same termination risk that CEOs at other firms face."
News Contact: Brianne O'Donnell, [e-mail] or [phone]

Romney Tax Returns Intensify Debate
Dan Baucum
Attorney at Shackelford Melton & McKinley in Dallas
Former Special Assistant to the IRS Associate Chief Counsel
"The release of Mitt Romney's tax returns has put an increased focus on both the arcane world of federal income taxes and the ongoing debate over classifying carried interest in partnerships. The review of Romney's returns is adding momentum to the growing demand for carried interest to be taxed as ordinary income, rather than the current capital gains model. If that change is ultimately made, it will be the biggest modification to partnership taxation in 50 years. It would also catch many small businesses and family partnerships in its wake, adding to an already unfavorable regulatory climate. Also, attracting interest are Romney's 'offshore' investments. These are part of a growing trend where investors seek investments that are globally diversified or not available in the U.S. because of regulatory restrictions."
News Contact: Rhonda Reddick, [e-mail] or [phone]

Staged to Sell
Blair Hamaty
CEO
Setting the Space in Plymouth, Mass.
"When it comes to staging a residential resale, the goal should be for prospective buyers to perceive it as a spacious blank canvas. If prospective buyers are busy envisioning what the seller's life is like, they will have a hard time envisioning what their life could be like in the home. In order for a home to seem most appealing to perspective buyers, certain tips should be followed: Take down draperies in order to highlight windows and play up the availability of natural light, strip wallpaper and paint walls a neutral color. Swap out furniture with pieces that complement the space, and remember that large pieces tend to make the room appear smaller."
News Contact: Lucia Scott, [e-mail]

Employee Anti-Poaching Agreements Illegal
Joe Ahmad
Executive Employment Lawyer
Ahmad, Zavitsanos, Anaipakos, Alavi & Mensing P.C. in Houston
"Corporate executives from various industries are closely watching an ongoing federal lawsuit in San Jose, Calif., where several tech companies have been accused of agreeing not to hire or poach the other companies' workers. Employees say the tech employers participated in a conspiracy to cut job competition and keep salaries low. It is a practice that is illegal. Essentially, it is a presumptive antitrust violation and will lead to both civil lawsuits and a Justice Department investigation. The effect and clear purpose of this conduct is to reduce competition and restrict wages for skilled employees. The key is when two or more competitors make this agreement, rather than simply deciding not to poach unilaterally. That scenario creates an illegal agreement to reduce competition and limit wages."
News Contact: Mary Flood, [e-mail] or [phone]

Energy-Saving Innovations That Make a Difference
Jim Lowenstern
CEO
Castles Unlimited in Newton, Mass.
"A lot of green products will save energy and ultimately money for your household, but there are two in particular that are extremely inexpensive and make an enormous impact on your monthly bills: faucet aerators and compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs). Faucet aerators and low-flow showerheads can save a household as much as 50 percent on their water bill. Even though a lot of consumers have converted to CFLs, you'd be surprised how many have not. Not only do CFLs require far less energy to operate (they use about one-fifth of the energy a normal light bulb uses), they also last much longer than conventional light bulbs (approximately six to 10 times as long)."
News Contact: Lucia Scott, [e-mail]

Employee Motivation
Kevin Stephens
Vice President
Excellence in Motivation
"Daniel Pink's often quoted conclusions about the insufficiency of extrinsic rewards for motivation have been mischaracterized and overgeneralized by those who say that rewards in the workplace don't work. But serious research has confirmed what common sense tells us: when people work at a job to make money, they will perform better if they are rewarded for extra efforts." Stephens can speak to various ways businesses can use extrinsic motivational initiatives to tap the full potential of their employees. Stephens has looked at the issue most recently in a white paper for the Incentive Marketing Association's Performance Improvement Council.
News Contact: Sue Voyles, [e-mail] or [phone]

Online Marketing
Patricia Henry Poyle
President and CEO of Henry Business Solutions, and its newest division, Business Visibility Builder
"According to Forrester Research, by 2016, online marketing via websites, search engines, mobile devices and social media will account for 26 percent of all advertising expenses. Companies will be spending $77 billion annually on 'new media,' or as much as is being spent today on television. So being able to boost a business's online presence and its influence in today's overcrowded media scene is more important than ever."
Poyle is a veteran Fortune 100 executive and business strategist who can speak to the issue of how companies can research the extent of their online influence and move ahead to maximize their digital footprint.
News Contact: Sue Voyles, [e-mail] or [phone]

Homeowners Reap Major Savings From Home Energy Efficiency
Rick Berube
Vice President of Operations
Standard Solar, Inc.
"With long-term energy costs on the rise and the environmental concerns of fossil-fuel-based power, homeowners are looking to lower their own bills and shrink their dependence on polluting fuels. The easiest and most economical solution is to invest in home energy improvements, which can result in 40 percent lower energy costs."
Berube can outline low-cost and simple ways to increase energy efficiency at home so homeowners can reap major savings.
Website: http://www.standardsolar.com
News Contact: Leah Wilkinson, [e-mail] or [phone]

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MEDIA JOBS

Following are links to job listings for staff and freelance writers. You can view these and more job listings on our Job Board: http://bit.ly/pncjobboard

• Editorial Director - NYC
• Health Care Editor - Chicago
• Street Reporter - Washington, D.C.
• Associate Development Editor - Avon, Mass.

See more listings here.

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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 [e-mail]

• INTERESTING EXPERT OF THE WEEK, SUPER BOWL EDITION: ProfNet Director Maria Perez interviews John Antil, Super Bowl advertising expert: http://bit.ly/yQFwFw
• GRAMMAR HAMMER: THE SUPER BOWL! RULES ON EXCLAMATION POINTS: ProfNet Editor Grace Lavigne explains how to use exclamation points appropriately: http://bit.ly/xnHHip
• FREELANCE FOCUS: GETTING STARTED IN FREELANCING: ProfNet Director Maria Perez interviews two experienced freelancers who provide advice for aspiring freelancers: http://bit.ly/wbhJ3A
• UPCOMING #CONNECTCHAT: HOW TO INCREASE BRAND INFLUENCE ON SOCIAL MEDIA: ProfNet Editor Grace Lavigne will interview social media strategist Shelly Lucas from @Hoovers on Jan. 31 about online brand influence: http://bit.ly/AvOzde

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/PRNewswire - Jan. 30, 2012/

SOURCE ProfNet