Over the past number of months one can't help but notice the barrage of headlines broadcasting the developments of the recent economic crisis. Nick Bedard has been paying particularly close attention. However, the PhD student in economics isn't so much concerned about his assets, but about the way the crisis is being portrayed by the news media. With a research interest in how the news media interacts with other stakeholders, and how news coverage impacts decision making, the headlines make him take pause.

Nick identifies luck as the number one influence in his academic career. Originally enrolled in the business program, Nick was so successful in the economics section of the course requirements that he decided to switch into an economics program. His favourite graduate course this term is Economic Growth in Historical Perspective. This course allowed Nick to apply some of the knowledge learned in previous courses, "Most courses so far have been tools focusing on developing technical skills. This course is one of the first to apply the tools we've learned to real work examples and develops some interested insights on historical episodes".

Nick's attention was first caught during an undergraduate course in economic development. At the time the images of the aftermath of hurricane Katrina dominated the news. After seeing how the media portrayed the role of poverty and its devastating affect, and how the tools of economics could be applied to such problems, his decision to continue working in the field was validated. Currently Nick is exploring the impact of policy decisions and how the decision making by individual agents, such as the consumer and firms, are impacted and manipulated through powerful agents and through the news media. With a SSHRC Doctoral Scholarship, and the support of the economics department, Nick now plans to study aid distribution and the media on his way to a PhD and an eventual professorship.

Among his other goals he also hopes to conquer a marathon and travel. Which he espouses in his advice to other graduate students; "do not isolate yourself in your work". He also suggests learning and research is best facilitated through dialogue; "talk to your professors about your ideas, go to seminars and talk to the presenters and most important, talk to your classmates".

Good advice, but also remember by Nick's account to be critical of the information you are presented with and where it is coming from.