Media Matters – SFU Business in the News – March 27

How SFU Business fared in the news for the week of March 27, 2009

The Sunday Edition program on CBC Radio taped its March 29 show at SFU’s Segal Graduate School of Business in Vancouver, with Michael Enright hosting a panel of speakers on the subject “Is capitalism, as we know it, dead?” From Simon Fraser University, the panel included Ed Bukszar, associate dean of graduate studies at Segal; economist Stephen Easton; and Richard Lipsey, prof emeritus of economics. The show will be on air right after the 9 am CBC news on Sunday March 29.

The Sweden-based Globe Forum told media that on June 3, in Stockholm, Swedish Crown Princess Victoria will present the 2009 Globe Awards for sustainability. The news release noted the judges included Leyland Pitt, marketing prof in SFU’s Segal Graduate School of Business and senior research fellow of the Leeds University business school in the UK.

Marketing prof Lindsay Meredith was in a Globe and Mail story about 2010 Winter Olympic finances. Organizers have collected $365 million from sponsors so far, but count on getting about $950 million. “I sure wouldn’t count the chickens before they’re hatched,” said Meredith.

Meredith was also on CBC Radio’s national news in a story on consumer complaints about Direct Buy, a company that claims to give deep discounts on home furnishings and appliances. CBC said the company locks people into contracts, and there is little protection from this in Canada. Said Meredith: “It’s not right. We need some protection for this kind of situation.” The seven papers in the Metro chain also did a story on Direct Buy and its forceful sales techniques. “This kinda pitch is a clear signal to hit that door running,” said Meredith.

TheTyee.ca ran a story on Ottawa’s claim that red tape affecting small business in Canada has been reduced by 20 per cent over the last two years. Ed Bukszar, associate dean of graduate in SFU Business, said: “It can’t hurt but I don’t think it’s going make a big difference.”