Mediaboss Marketing

by Nancy D. Lackey Shaffer

nshaffer@timespublications.com

Back for Season 2 is What We Do in the Shadows, the FX comedy-horror series (also available on Hulu) about a trio of vampires just trying to get by in Staten Island. Ottoman soldier Nandor (Kayvan Novak), Romani Nadja (Natasia Demetriou) and her English nobleman husband, Laszlo (Matt Berry), continue to navigate the mundane and mystical alike with the same absurdly hilarious results that delighted fans when it debuted in 2019.

In truth, the series isnt as funny as the 2014 film of the same name and how could it be? Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement wrote, directed and starred in the original What We Do in the Shadows, and their deft touch with dialogue combined with exceptional onscreen chemistry and comedic timing isnt easily duplicated. As talented as the television actors are, you just cant improve upon perfection.

Having said that, the series still brings plenty of laughs, and has an energy all its own. Clement (credited as the creator; Waititi directed three episodes and serves as executive producer) was smart to set the show in a different location with a fresh cast of characters, giving it room to breathe and distinguish itself from its wildly popular predecessor. Nadja brings a welcome womans perspective, and its fun to see the vampire world through the eyes of familiar Guillermo (Harvey Guilln) eyes that become more and more jaded over time. An endless parade of guest stars Tilda Swinton, Wesley Snipes, Benedict Wong, Dave Bautista, Craig Robinson, Evan Rachel Wood, several Saturday Night Live alumni further enrich this farcical feast.

The best addition, however, is Colin, an energy vampire that feeds by sucking the will and motivation out of others by boring or aggravating them a wet blanket turned up to 11. Mark Proksch (The Office, Better Call Saul) is exceptional at capturing Colins polite, droning toxicity as he haunts cubicle farms, city council meetings, buses and more. His Season 1 encounter with an emotional vampire is a thing of sidesplitting (and terrifyingly familiar) beauty. Do such creatures walk among us? Best not to ask.

Now in its second season, What We Do in the Shadows is hitting its stride, introducing other beings that add mischief to the comedy magic. A necromancer, a New York hipster/cider entrepreneur turned zombie and ghosts all come out to play with our vampires. Theres even a haunted doll, who makes for a droll companion for Nadja, desperate for some intelligent, non-male company after hundreds of years. Episode 3, which just aired on April 23, has our vampires attending what they think is a neighborhood Superb Owl Party . . . which goes exactly as well as youd expect.

Despite the mockumentary format and horror in its DNA, What We Do in the Shadows is, in essence, a paranormal sitcom, more Friends than True Blood and thats not a bad thing. Theres plenty of comedy to be mined from supernatural beings beset by the same relationship complications and trivial annoyances encountered by mere mortals. Old flames, irritating neighbors, marital squabbling, unfortunate encounters with Animal Control (as when Laszlo ends up in the pound in bat form), the frustrations of dealing with city council or being the nerd at the popular kids table theres no escape from the everyday indignities of life, even for the undead.

Out of the Box is a semi-regular column by VCReporter staff and contributors about television and streaming content.

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Original post:
OUT OF THE BOX | Laugh at first bite - Ventura County Reporter

KUALA LUMPUR: Bukit Aman has opened four investigation papers into various videos posted online involving the Rohingya community, with 19 police reports received between April 2528, says Bukit Aman CID director Comm Datuk Huzir Mohamed.

Were aware issues involving the Rohingya are being discussed on social media during the movement control order (MCO) period.

It involves tensions between Malaysians and the Rohingya community but we will get to the bottom of it, he said, adding that the situation was sparked by a Facebook live session conducted by a group of Rohingya men.

They threatened and insulted Malaysians, especially the Malays. The live sessions used an account belonging to Villan Vicky, a Rohingya who stayed in Malaysia previously but is now residing in the United States.

The men in the live sessions used foul words to insult Malaysians and made derogatory comments on sexual acts. They even claimed the Malays had provoked them first.

At the end of the video, the men claimed their anger was not directed at Malays but was meant for Rohingya NGO leader Zafar Ahmad. They felt that Zafar was trying very hard to become a Malay. They claimed that Zafar did not represent the voice of the Rohingya in Malaysia said Comm Huzir.

The suspects also showed a video of them undergoing firearms training to defend themselves, he said, adding that the videos have led to misunderstanding between groups, with insults and threats exchanged.

Comm Huzir urged the public to stop speculating on investigations conducted by the Bukit Aman CIDs Special Investigation Unit.

Any article or statement on this issue should not be shared on social media or other platforms as it will lead to tension and disharmony in the country.

We will take stern action against those who cause public distress, he said.

See the original post here:
Cops probe videos related to Rohingya groups - The Star Online

INDIANAPOLIS, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) today announced free access to the mySugr Pro app to help the millions of Americans living with diabetes maintain their personalized daily diabetes routine during the COVID-19 crisis. This offer is especially beneficial as healthcare providers increasingly transition to remote patient visits.1,2

With the mySugr Pro app, users have access to valuable features to better manage their condition. They can create and share with their healthcare team detailed PDF reports of their aggregated diabetes data from Accu-Chek blood glucose meters, blood sugar levels, carbohydrate intake, stress levels, insulin dosages, medication, and estimated HbA1c. This efficient overview of information helps healthcare providers recognize patterns and individualize guidance. For people with diabetes, this helps prompt questions about blood sugar highs and lows for discussion with healthcare providers, enabling a satisfying experience during remote visits.3

For people with diabetes, good glucose control is important in avoiding or reducing the severity of infection. The risk of getting very sick from COVID-19 is likely to be lower if diabetes is well managed.4

"It is more important than ever for people with diabetes to feel supported in their self-management and connected to their healthcare team," said Matt Jewett, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Roche Diabetes Care, US. "Diabetes is well-suited to virtual care, and our goal is to facilitate highly productive interactions between healthcare providers and patients now and in the future."

With more than 2 million registered users worldwide, the mySugr app eases the complexity of the daily diabetes routine with data, motivation and detailed reports.

Visit accu-chek.com/mySugrPro to unlock the mySugr Pro features for free. This offer is valid until September 30, 2020.

For all further updates on our COVID-19 response, visitaccu-chek.com.

Rates of diabetes on the rise According to the International Diabetes Federation5 nearly half a billion (463 million) adults worldwide are currently living with diabetes; by 2045 this number will rise to 700 million. Controlling glycemic levels is critical in preventing long-term microvascular and macrovascular complications.6 As with many chronic diseases, the achievement of optimal therapeutic outcomes relies on both treatment persistence and treatment adherence.

References

[1] Virtual Diabetes Care during COVID-19: Practical Tips for the Diabetes Clinicianhttps://www.centerfordigitalhealthinnovation.org/posts/virtual-diabetes-care-during-covid19-practical-tips-for-the-diabetes-clinician. Accessed April 21, 2020 [2] The mySugr vouchercode can only be redeemed one time per user until September 30, 2020. The voucher code will enable mySugr pro version for 185 days. Void where prohibited by law.[3] Teresa L. Pearson, MS, RN, CDE, FAADE, Telehealth: Aiding Navigation Through the Perfect Storm of Diabetes Care in the Era of Healthcare Reform, Diabetes Spectrum2013 Nov;26(4):221-225.https://doi.org/10.2337/diaspect.26.4.221. .Section 7: Diabetes and Telehealth, Lines 7-10, Section 11: Nonface-to-face services conducted through live video conferencing or "store and forward" telecommunication services, Paragraph 3, Lines 7-13 https://spectrum.diabetesjournals.org/content/26/4/221%5B4%5D American Diabetes Association FAQ, Do people with diabetes have a higher chance of experiencing complications from COVID-19? Paragraph 2, Line 1 https://www.diabetes.org/covid-19-faq. Accessed April 21, 2020[5] IDF Facts & Figures, February 20, 2020: https://www.idf.org/aboutdiabetes/what-is-diabetes/facts-figures.html. Accessed April 21, 2020[6] UK Prospective Diabetes Study Group: "Intensive blood-glucose control with sulphonylureas or insulin compared with conventional treatment and risk of complications in patients with type 2 diabetes (UKPDS 33)." Lancet 352(9131): 837-853 (1998).

About mySugrFounded in 2012in Vienna, Austria, mySugr specializes in all-around care for people with diabetes. Its app and services combine diabetes coaching, therapy management, unlimited test-strips, automated data tracking, and seamless integration with a growing number of medical devices to ease the daily burden of living with diabetes. The mySugr app has more than two million registered users and has received an average 4.6 star rating in theAppandPlay Store. The mySugr Logbook as well as the mySugr Bolus Calculator are both medical devices.

The mySugr App is available in 79 countries and 24 languages. mySugr joined the Roche Diabetes Care family in 2017. In addition to its headquarters in Vienna, the company has a second office in San Diego, California, and currently employs more than 175 people. For more information, please visitmysugr.com/en/for-media.

About Roche Diabetes CareRoche Diabetes Care has been pioneering innovative diabetes technologies and services for more than 40 years. More than 5,500 employees in over 100 markets worldwide work every day to support people with diabetes and those at risk to achieve more time in their target ranges and experience true relief from the daily therapy routines.Being a global leader in integrated Personalized Diabetes Management (iPDM), Roche Diabetes Care collaborates with thought leaders around the globe, including people with diabetes, caregivers, healthcare providers and payers. Roche Diabetes Care aims to transform and advance care provision and foster sustainable care structures. Under the brands RocheDiabetes, Accu-Chek and mySugr, comprising glucose monitoring, insulin delivery systems and digital solutions, Roche Diabetes Care unites with its partners to create patient-centred value. By building and collaborating in an open ecosystem, connecting devices and digital solutions as well as contextualise relevant data points, Roche Diabetes Care enables deeper insights and a better understanding of the disease, leading to personalised and effective therapy adjustments. For better outcomes and true relief.

Since 2017, mySugr one of the most popular diabetes management apps is part of Roche Diabetes Care.

For more information, please visit http://www.rochediabetes.com, http://www.accu-chek.comand http://www.mysugr.com.

About RocheRoche is a global pioneer in pharmaceuticals and diagnostics focused on advancing science to improve people's lives. The combined strengths of pharmaceuticals and diagnostics under one roof have made Roche the leader in personalised healthcare a strategy that aims to fit the right treatment to each patient in the best way possible.

Roche is the world's largest biotech company, with truly differentiated medicines in oncology, immunology, infectious diseases, ophthalmology and diseases of the central nervous system. Roche is also the world leader in in vitro diagnostics and tissue-based cancer diagnostics, and a frontrunner in diabetes management.

Founded in 1896, Roche continues to search for better ways to prevent, diagnose and treat diseases and make a sustainable contribution to society. The company also aims to improve patient access to medical innovations by working with all relevant stakeholders. More than thirty medicines developed by Roche are included in the World Health Organization Model Lists of Essential Medicines, among them life-saving antibiotics, antimalarials and cancer medicines. Moreover, for the eleventh consecutive year, Roche has been recognised as one of the most sustainable companies in the Pharmaceuticals Industry by the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI).

The Roche Group, headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, is active in over 100 countries and in 2019 employed about 98,000 people worldwide. In 2019, Roche invested CHF 11.7 billion in R&D and posted sales of CHF 61.5 billion. Genentech, in the United States, is a wholly owned member of the Roche Group. Roche is the majority shareholder in Chugai Pharmaceutical, Japan. For more information, please visit http://www.roche.com.

All trademarks used or mentioned in this release are protected by law.

For more information please contact:- Amy Lynn (amy.lynn@roche.com)

Excerpt from:
Roche offers free access to mySugr Pro helping people with diabetes stay connected to their healthcare team during COVID-19 - Indiana Statesman

UNSPECIFIED LOCATION - APRIL 24: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) In this still image from video provided by the ... [+] NFL, Josh Uche, seated center, talks on the phone as he is selected by the New England Patriots during the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft on April 24, 2020. (Photo by NFL via Getty Images)

Last weeks National Football League college draft was a resounding commercial and artistic success. But most surprising, given the presence of media behemoths at the NFL and its national broadcast partners, was that a critical foundation of the drafts on-air success was due to a small company you likely never knew existed. And that company just might show the way to the future of live TV production.

The NFL Draft hit at a time of crying need for U.S. sports fans bereft of any sports programming but the ESPN Michael Jordan documentary and a lot of archival classic sports telecasts. The draft drew 15.6 million viewers across ESPN, ABC,NFLNetwork and ESPN Deportes, an increase of nearly 40% over last year, an audience hard to come by for advertisers even absent a pandemic. Aesthetically, I agree with the take from sportswriter Tara Sullivan of The Boston Globe who described the event as the type of heartwarming, uplifting programming we didnt even know we wanted but realize now how much we needed.

Beyond wondering what exactly New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichicks dog was doing during the draft, I was fascinated by how this telecast came together in the midst of our work-from-home quarantine life. I grew up in a TV business where arranging for one live remote could be a logistical challenge. In this case the NFL and its broadcast partners had to deliver live video from a group of 58 top college football players on top of general managers and coaches from 32 teams and on-air network talent.

The little engine that could and did manage this complex production challenge for the NFL is a company called Video Call Center (VCC), based just up the Hudson River from New York City. VCCs Founder and Chairman is Tom Wolzien, a former NBC executive, Wall Street analyst and inveterate inventor, and its CEO is Larry Thaler, another NBC alum and longtime television production and operations executive. VCCs primary financial backing, other than from Wolzien and Thaler, comes from Tegna, Inc., the local broadcast TV station group formerly part of Gannett Media GCI.I .

VCCs overnight success during the NFL draft has been at least 6 years in the making. As CEO Thaler described to me, what Wolzien saw emerging in 2013-2014 has been a harsh reality for broadcast TV ever since: rising production costs combined with declining viewership (i.e., ratings) per dollar of production spend. For remote production you had the option of an expensive professional set up with a camera and crew on-site, or simply using Skype which gave the producer little or no control over the picture or sound they were using. In stepped Wolzien and VCC, filing his first patent in 2014 for software to bring a professional-level production layer of quality to the use of off the shelf videoconferencing products such as Facetime, Groovio or Zoom that facilitate live remote video production and transmission.

The NFL Draft was hardly VCCs first rodeo. The heart of the bullseye for VCC has long been sports according to Thaler, and VCC has done extensive work for Fox Sports regional sports networks, Major League Baseball and MSG. In entertainment, their clients have included Vice and TLC, especially for their tell-all shows such as 90 Day Fiance and the upcoming Find Love Live, a virtual dating show seemingly made for quarantines. They have recently also launched a new show with CBS All Access called Tooning Out the News, where VCC produces the real-world newsmakers who interact with cartoon characters (yes you can tell them apart).

As Thaler described it to me, VCC has been blown away by customers reactions to what VCCs production technology and process do for them. They come away with lower costs, shorter production cycles, much greater agility and flexibility in making changes on the fly, and far fewer quality problems such as the annoying latency we are used to seeing from bare-bones Zoom or Facetime remotes. And these clients come back for more.

This track record led to the NFLs outreach to VCC for the draft. As Thaler told me, the NFL approached VCC only about two and half weeks before the draft. The NFL had already planned to send two smart phones to every one of the 58 prospective player draftees. One phone would be for an always-on family reaction shot and the other was intended for live interviews with network hosts. It was then up VCC to determine, with no site visits possible, how to wring the best possible on-air picture and sound for each of these 116 cameras in whatever environment the player was situated. That typically necessitated one or more hour-long rehearsals with every prospect. VCCs software permitted producers to manage the best connectivity sound and picture quality at the moment of airing.

As Thaler described it, the most fascinating challenge for VCC was that in a draft no one can be sure which remote needs to go live until a team makes its formal selection. So instead of a typical 7-15-minute lead time before a remote location goes live, VCC had 75 seconds of notice from the NFL after a pick was made by a team and when the always-on phone shot had to go live. Hopefully no ill-timed bathroom breaks!

One promising feature for present and aspiring TV producers was that technology cant replace people here. It took 6 VCC producers all full-time VCC employees to manage the massive quantity of live remotes. As Thaler pointed out, these intensively trained crew members have to not only act as traditional producers in managing the right visuals, but must simultaneously be technicians in assessing the best internet connectivity at each location and maybe most importantly amateur psychologists, leading a hugely diverse group of players and their families through entirely unfamiliar TV technology and production processes.

In both the midst and afterglow of the successful NFL Draft experience, Thaler, Wolzien and team are already deluged with new inquiries driven by COVID-19 restrictions. Next on the VCC wish list: bringing these new tech and workflow processes to bear for local stations across the country who need to produce news every day. Thaler longs for extending VCCs tools to help shift the camera lens focus from the speaker to what the speaker is looking at the nature of live reporting.

Societys need for effective local journalism never mind the broadcast industrys has never needed more support. The necessity of COVID-19 will hopefully be the mother of innovation here.

Link:
How 2020 NFL Draft Gave Us A Window Into Future Of TV Production - Forbes

As New Jersey prepares to temporarily release some state prison inmates to stem a spike in coronavirus deaths behind bars, corrections officials threatened to throw anyone who talked to the media back in their cells, NJ Advance Media has learned.

The gag order was among more than two dozen conditions prisoners had to agree to in order to get temporary medical leave under an executive order signed by Gov. Phil Murphy this month, which sought to reduce prison populations by moving sick, elderly and other prisoners to home confinement.

Violating any term can land you back in prison, where at least 16 inmates have already died, as well as trigger further disciplinary action," according to the original contract.

The ban on speaking to reporters was removed only after civil liberties advocates complained to the state attorney general, according to Alexander Shalom, a lawyer with the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey.

A draft obtained by NJ Advance Media directed prisoners not to "engage in any public activities, meetings, discussions or demonstrations, or give interviews/opinions to the press, radio, or television media.

The condition raised concerns among free speech advocates, especially at a time when the states prison system faces intense scrutiny over limited testing, a rise in deaths in custody and complaints from inmates and officers that New Jersey isnt doing enough to quell the spread of COVID-19.

It appears to be a form of prior restraint, which is clearly something precluded by the First Amendment," said Tom Cafferty, a media lawyer at Gibbons P.C. in New Jersey.

Cafferty serves as general counsel for the New Jersey Press Association, and he said corrections officials do have the authority to control media access to inmates in their care. For example, they could turn down an interview request out of concern for the safety of the inmate, staff or members of the press.

But this doesnt appear to be a valid condition to any furlough or medical leave, he said. This is somebody whos not even in the prison and theres a restriction on their speech rights."

Matthew Schuman, a corrections spokesman, responded that officials were creating a process to release prisoners from the ground up." That involved pulling information from various resources," including some from previous administrations, he wrote in an email.

He did not respond to questions about the prohibitions intended purpose, who suggested blocking reporters from speaking with inmates, why the department wanted to prevent news gathering or if there was any statute or law they believed would allow that restriction.

A state attorney general spokeswoman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Newsletter | Homepage

More than 1,100 inmates have been flagged for possible release, many of whom are older than 60 and have health conditions that put them at extra risk, but none had been set free as of Wednesday. Almost two weeks have passed since the governor told officials to ease pressure inside the states near-capacity prisons.

An updated contract prisoners will have to sign was revised Wednesday and provided by the ACLU-NJ. That document is the latest version and has been vetted, Schuman wrote.

The 3-page contract bars those under emergency medical home confinement from driving, drinking alcohol or getting married without prior approval.

Released prisoners must call twice a day. Not calling, or not returning to prison the moment theyre expected back, is considered an escape.

People may only leave their homes for medical emergencies, and they must call the department to report any unusual circumstances or problems. Inmates are also barred from contact with victims or their relatives, exchanging anything with other inmates or their families, or possessing weapons.

They must carry their prison ID with them at all times, and inmates may not open bank accounts.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Blake Nelson can be reached at bnelson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @BCunninghamN.

S.P. Sullivan may be reached at ssullivan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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N.J. tried to ban inmates from talking to media if they are released amid coronavirus crisis - NJ.com