This Week's Herman Trend Alert Cyberbullying---a Growing Problem

The Herman Trend Alert January 21, 2009 Reading on the Rise According to a new study by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), for the first time in history, American adults are reading more literature. The study, called "Reading on the Rise" documents a convincing increase in rates and numbers of American adults who read literature, with the biggest increases among young adults, ages 18 to 24. This growth reverses more than two decades of downward trends cited in previous NEA surveys. The overall rate at which adults read literature, novels and short stories, plays, or poems, rose by seven percent. Young adults showed the most impressive increases in literary reading. Since 2002, 18 to 24 year-olds have had the biggest increase (nine percent) in literary reading, and the most rapid rate of increase (21 percent) as well. Reading rates among Hispanic Americans have improved at the sharpest rate---by 20 percent; among African Americans, rates have increased by 15 percent and among Whites, at a mere eight percent rate of increase. Also, for the first time in the survey's history, literary reading has increased among both men and women. In fact, literary reading rates have grown or held steady for adults of all education levels. Fiction, that is novels and short stories, accounts for the new growth in adult literary readers. Nearly 15 percent of all US adults read literature online in 2008 and a slight majority of American adults now reads literature or books in any format. "This dramatic turnaround shows that the many programs now focused on reading, including our own 'Big Read', are working," said NEA's Chairman Dana Gioia (no relation to our author). The Big Read program has an active presence in every state, and reaches almost 500 communities with over 21,000 organizational partners. It is only one example of the countless efforts by teachers, parents, and others to encourage young people to read. In light of the expanding variety of distractions in the form of music, movies, video games, and alternate universes, these results are surprising. We expect this reading trend to continue to increase, in a small way supporting the US in its drive for competitiveness © Copyright 1998- by The Herman Group, Inc. -- reproduction for publication is encouraged, with the following attribution: From "The Herman Trend Alert," by Roger Herman and Joyce Gioia, Strategic Business Futurists. (800) 227-3566 or http://www.hermangroup.com. The Herman Trend Alert is a trademark of The Herman Group, Inc." DISCOVER WHAT’S REALLY GOING ON... in the hearts and minds of your employees. Our InnerViews interviewing service uses SPHRs and PHRs, certified human resource professionals to probe for the information you really need to know. Exit and Stay Interviews, as well as Why-Didn't-You-Take-Our-Offer Interviews. Call Rosalie Catalano at 937-416-7066, or read more at: http://www.hermangroup.com/retentionconnection/exit_interviews.html. MOM ALWAYS TAUGHT IT WAS GOOD TO SHARE You have probably subscribed to The Herman Trend Alert for a while now and you know how valuable it is to you. Why not suggest that your friends sign up at http://www.hermantrendalert.com? Join the thousands who subscribe in 87 countries around the globe. Are there particular topics you'd like to see covered? Let us know and we will research "The Future of. . .". And let us know how else we may serve you? E-mail: joyce@hermangroup.com. YOUR EMPLOYEES NEED THEIR LEADERS MORE THAN EVER Help your leaders to excel. Thousands have used our weekly Lessons in Leadership to help their supervisors and managers remember how to hold onto top talent. The 52-week subscription is only $47, a bargain when you think about the savings to your organization in reduced turnover. Quantity discounts available by emailing Carol at carol@hermangroup.com. Order today at: http://www.hermangroup.com/store/subscription_all.html#3. Herman Trend Alerts are produced by the Herman Group, strategic business futurists, Certified Management Consultants, authors, and professional speakers. New subscribers are welcome. There is no charge for this public service. The Herman Trend Alert is received by over 30,000 subscribers in 78 countries, in addition to other websites and printed magazines. Do you enjoy receiving this weekly e-mail update? Contact us about our co-branded Trend Alert service. Click here to sign up for the Herman Trend Alert. Subscribe or Unsubscribe to weekly Herman Trend Alert View this week's Herman Trend Alert Archived Weekly Herman Trend Alerts

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