BT Online — Business Today Online Journal

The Power of Sustainable Urban Farming: an Interview with Tosha Phonix

Taking on the role of Food Justice Organizer for the Missouri Coalition for the Environment in 2018, Tosha Phonix has utilized her platform to be a beacon for Black growers in and around St. Louis to turn to. From supporting Promise Zone residents through the Neighborhood Leadership Fellows program and Neighborhood Leadership Academy to spearheading various initiatives like the Food Equity Advisory Board which brings together community leaders in the fight for food justice, Tosha’s work has been influential in promoting community development through improved access to fresh, healthy food.

A Remedy or a Curse: Will QE Help or Peril the World Economies?

Being considered an emergency remedy for the current economic crisis, quantitative easing can prove lethal in the long run for businesses and states when implemented permanently. Today, it might be one of the most popular policies to combat economic recession and spur growth. However, as Summer Journalism Fellow Anastasiia Tokar shows, it should be supported with direct business assistance and unemployment protection policies to survive its long-term consequences.

Disney+ and its Infiltration of the Streaming Monopoly

Broadway musical Hamilton was released on Disney+ at the start of July, which put the streaming service into the limelight as Disney+ took an initial step away from solely original Disney content. With this new rollout, Disney’s overarching aim was to infiltrate the streaming monopoly made up of Netflix and Amazon Prime. Come COVID-19, the pandemic has confined people to their homes and given the streaming industry an unexpected boost - especially for Disney+. Summer Journalism Fellow Joe Strong analyzes the stock value, market capitalization, and competitive advantages of Disney+ alongside one of its biggest competitors: Netflix.

It’s Time to Put the Discussion on Electric Cars to Rest

Electric vehicles have been experiencing unprecedented growth, yet their promise of revolutionary change has drawn skepticism from many who argue they are not only less climate friendly than touted but also pose a danger to the livelihoods of workers. Despite this, Summer Journalism Fellow Dean Lee Sammanthan argues, we should embrace this transition for an enriching quality of life.

Apple vs. Spotify: Through the Lens of Those who Consume and Create

In the past, many were often opposed to the idea that they were being tracked online. However, as Summer Journalism Fellow Ashleigh Fields observes, recent additions to music platforms have given users a different perspective. With their wealth of analytics, Spotify and Apple Music have given both listeners and artists a chance to better understand the content they are consuming and creating, enhancing their overall streaming experience.

Inquisitive and Idealistic: Gwendolyn Lee, Co-Founder of Students vs. Pandemics, on the Power of Students and Interdisciplinary Innovation

Gwendolyn Lee, co-founder of Students vs Pandemics, discusses with Summer Journalism Fellow Millie Muroi her vision of bringing people with different perspectives together to tackle COVID-19 through innovative solutions, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and student leadership. Lee also shares her insights on the road ahead for healthcare, policy, and business in the coming decade and how students can actively contribute beyond the academic sphere through civic engagement and public service.

Don’t Have Enough on Your Plate? Connecting High Rates of COVID-19 to Food Apartheids

COVID-19 has given us enough on our plates. But what about people who don’t have enough food on theirs to face it? The risk of food insecurity is higher among low-income populations in communities known as food deserts. In addition to these socioeconomic factors, food apartheid causes significant public health problems. In this two part article series, Summer Journalism Fellow Charlotte Ehlers draws connections between food insecurity, its related underlying public health issues, and higher rates of COVID-19 in affected communities.

"To Educate, Celebrate, and Enrich": Max Rudin on the Revolution in American Literature

Storytelling is one of the most powerful ways of sharing cultures and expressing ideas. For Max Rudin, the stories told through history and literature form a cornerstone of the American identity that he has strived to preserve and honor through his work as President and Publisher of the Library of America. In his conversation with Summer Journalism Fellow Maryam Gamar, Rudin highlights the crucial role of the library in an age of digital information and racial reckoning.

Changing the Face of Economics: an Interview with Chinemelu Okafor

Founded by Chinemelu Okafor, a predoctoral research specialist and Emerging Scholar in the Politics Department at Princeton University, Research In Color Foundation (RIC) aims to cultivate a more equitable economics profession while empowering students of color interested in the field as well as adjacent fields. As an incorporated nonprofit organization, RIC also works to amplify meaningful economic and policy research that benefits communities of color. As we hear in her conversation with Boost Journalism Fellow Victoria Agwam, the mentorship of young scholars of color throughout this process is essential.

Boost Fellowship, InterviewsVictoria AgwamAugust 5, 2020economics, Diversity, research, mentorship, academia

Cal State vs. COVID: Leading America's Largest Public University System through Crisis with Chancellor Timothy White

As a first-generation college student who rose to Chancellor of the California State University System, Timothy White has overcome obstacles before and led the University though ambitious programs such as Graduation Initiative 2025 to galvanize student success. The COVID pandemic has been his greatest challenge yet, but as White describes to Summer Journalism Fellow Joe Strong, his commitment to the university is stronger than ever.

Pioneering Academia: A Conversation with Dr. Leonard Wantchekon

Originally from Zagnanado in central Benin, Leonard Wantchekon is a Professor of Politics and International Affairs at Princeton University. Largely, his work stands at the intersection of Politics, Economic History, and Development Economics, particularly in Africa, and has also contributed significantly to the literature on clientelism and state capture, resource curse, and democratization.

A Conversation with Josh Nichols, Founder of CrossBraining, Inc., about Online Learning

Josh Nichols, Founder of CrossBraining, Inc., an experiential learning and video assessment platform, explains how CrossBraining encourages hands-on learning by enabling students to capture, narrate and reflect on their learning targets through video storytelling. He also shares what opportunities exist for the education system to be more innovative, especially during COVID-19 and what aspiring student entrepreneurs need to know about the product design process.

The Surge in Solar: A Conversation with Thomas Leyden, Senior Director at EDF Renewables

Summer Journalism Fellow Jeremiah Thoronka speaks with Thomas Leyden, Senior Director at EDF Renewables, a leading producer of wind and solar power in over 20 countries. Leyden discusses his pioneering efforts in photovoltaics, the roles of the public and private sectors in financing developments, and the efficacy of various policy frameworks adopted by different nations in confronting the shift towards sustainable resources.

The Art Market: What the Numbers Say About American Ideals

Throughout the years, an increasing number of Black artists have entered the space of fine art, pushing boundaries of aestheticism and, in turn, claiming a stake in the white-dominated market. Though as the mainstream prominence of Black art remains disparate from its white counterparts, evident through market value and representation in galleries across the country, another facet of the industry must be examined to understand why: the Black curator.

A New Era – Outdated Amateurism and the NCAA (Part 1)

With an increasingly globalised world, the commercial potential of collegiate sport has exponentially grown. However, the NCAA’s “amateurism” business model is being increasingly attacked. Summer Journalism Fellow Joe Strong explains that the more that basketball players choose to forego the NCAA, the more that the quality of NCAA talent and therefore, its appeal to fans, will decrease. Many aspiring professional athletes want to be able to support their families earlier, and alternate pathways to circumvent the NCAA, like the NBA G-League’s “Professional Player Pathway,” are becoming increasingly popular.

Black in Business: How Entrepreneurs of Color Have Triumphed Financially in a Crisis

As the world watched a video of George Floyd taking his last breath, the Black Lives Matter movement gained rare air, and as millions looked for ways to make a difference, small Black-owned businesses got an unprecedented boost. As Summer Journalism Fellow Ashleigh Field explains, many of these owners are using this prosperity to reinvest back in the community and contribute to the larger cause for justice and equality.

Rising with Refugees: A Conversation with Patricia Letayf, Cofounder of Five One Labs

Summer Journalism Fellow Charlotte Ehlers speaks with Patricia Letayf, co-founder and Director of Operations at Five One Labs, a startup incubator in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq that has incubated five cohorts of startups since its inception in 2017. Letayf describes how Five One Labs combines her interests in Middle Eastern politics, business, and economic development and how it also uses entrepreneurship to enable diverse groups of young people in Kurdistan to rebuild their community.

Acing the Space at the Onset of 5G

Reliance Jio has been riding a wave of success as it eyes strategic partnerships for the 5G era in its urge to be self-sufficient and independent of network equipment vendors. With its overwhelming support from both investors and political figures, Jio is well-positioned to plant the Indian flag near the top of the telecom industry. Here, Summer Journalism Fellows Peyush Karel breaks down its unique strategy in the expansion game.

The Rise and Rise of Ed-tech: Is it Finally Here to Stay?

Today, ed-tech is an umbrella term that refers to any technological initiative designed to streamline learning. Despite this, startups in the space have had a rocky ride over the past half-decade with investors and skeptics raising questions about their cash burn, business models, and even their crown jewel: content. The black swan event that is COVID-19 has seen educational institutions and students flock to ed-tech platforms during the transition to online learning, but this begs the question: is ed-tech here to stay once the dust settles?

Where Accountants’ Creativity Can Lead

As the pandemic recession continues to ravage the economy, businesses have begun exploring the possibilities of creative accounting practices in an attempt to promote a more optimistic outlook in the market. However, as Journalism Fellow Anastasiia Tokar indicates, a lack of transparency can lead to serious consequences; simply look at Wirecard for proof.