With Good Reason

In the 18th century it was hard cider, not beer, that was the alcoholic beverage of choice. Even children often drank hard cider with breakfast and dinner because it was safer than the water.  So how did this preference for hard cider disappear from the American palate?  David Williams (George Mason University) investigates the demise [...]

The recent explosion of on-line social media has prompted businesses to change how they get their marketing messages to the public.  Yuping Liu-Thompkins (Old Dominion University) says that, while there are many new ways to market products and brands, companies need to be aware that the new social media allow for less control of a [...]

When towns lose major businesses, city leaders often try to recruit another big industry to take its place.  Greg Fairchild (University of Virginia) calls that “going after the whale.”  But he thinks communities might be healthier if they successfully lure several smaller companies, which he calls “dolphins.”  Also: In the small community of Sarayaku in [...]

Are you an entrepreneur? Plenty of books claim that you can be one if you set your mind to it. But James Koch (Old Dominion University) believes such claims are false. Entrepreneurs, he argues, consistently exhibit distinct, innate personality traits that set them apart from the pack, taking some of the gamble out of entrepreneurial [...]

When Virginia’s fight against integration of the public schools failed, white families moved out of cities in droves and left behind social and physical scars that are still felt today.  Renee Hill (Virginia State University) and John Moeser (University of Richmond) discuss the history of “white flight” and its effect today on Richmond, Virginia, the [...]

Are the days of the big newspapers numbered?  Jeff South (Virginia Commonwealth University) says the demand for news and information is higher than ever.   In order to survive, newspapers need to change the business models of both their on-line presence and how they gather the news.   And, if Mike Marshall’s Crozet Gazette is any indication, [...]

Things have fallen apart for U.S. automakers in the current recession and a Virginia expert on the national auto industry has done some crystal ball gazing as to what our transportation future holds. Sarah McConnell with the radio program With Good Reason reports: [Audio clip: view full post to listen]

George Hoffer (Virginia Commonwealth University), who has studied the American automotive industry for 40 years, explains why it’s in decline and may be vanishing before our very eyes. He also says in order to make up a shortfall of funds for public transportation we may soon be charged highway user fees—paying for each mile we [...]

In Greek mythology, the goddess Mentor was a trusted counselor of Odysseus.  Today, mentoring still fuels career success in all fields. But Suzanne De Janasz (University of Mary Washington) says in this techno-dependent age we can use online tools to establish relationships with mentors as we build our careers.  Also: In the not too distant [...]

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