News Synopsis Example
Information Science News
Edited by [Your name here]
Important items from the week of September 2 - September 6
Too Many Telephones
(New York Times: Sunday, August 18)
When the number of telephones within a given area code gets sufficiently high, the strategy has been to create a new area code. Maintenance and assignment of area codes has been the responsibility of the telephone industry research organization, Bellcore. As FAX machines, cellular phones, and telephone data transmission proliferate, Bellcore is faced with the problem of exhausting the supply of area codes. Of 152 available codes, only three (210, 810, and 910) remain unallocated. Possible strategies include allowing codes that do not have 0 or 1 as a middle digit, increasing the area code to four digits, or increasing the number after the area code to 8.
Information piracy in the third world
(New York Times: Sunday, August 18)
In cities throughout the developing world, cheap copies of the latest film videos, musical recordings, and computer software are sold without payment of royalties to the owners of the intellectual property rights. In several countries, including Egypt, the Soviet Union, India, China, and Thailand, the rule seem to be �if you can copy it, you can sell it�. The US government, publishers, and filmakers have been putting pressure on foreign governments to pass new laws or enforce existing laws. Despite limited success (Saudi Arabia and Mexico recently tightened their laws), piracy costs American companies as much as $15 billion each year. Some retailers in the third world protray themselves as Robin Hoods, stealing from the rich to provide affordable technology and entertainment to the poor.
Doctors and AIDS
(New York Times: Sunday, August 18)
Thhe US Senate has passed two bills aimed at forcing AIDS-infected doctors to inform their patients. The Centers for Disease Control have adopted a set of guidelines for infected health care workers that encourages research to reduce risk in the health care environment, and covers procedures for sterile procedures, testing methods, and vaccination procedures (Hepatitus B). The debate is an entagled issue of personal and medical ethics. While the vast majority of doctors at a recent AMA meeting agreed that they would not seek treatment from an infected doctor, disclosing their disease will likely end the career of a health worker. In a survey conducted by a new advocacy organization, the Expertise Retention Program, respondants (about 150) explained their reluctance to comply with disclosure guidelines. Several expressed fears of being forced from their jobs and falling into debt without health insurance. A few said they saw no alternative but suicide.
Editorial too! (about 500 words)