The scripts are available for printing and for sound bite identification.
Go to http://www.wichita.edu/newsline to get the current Wichita State University Newsline. If you cannot access the Newsline at the Web address above, contact Joe Kleinsasser at (316) 978-3013 or joe.kleinsasser@wichita.edu. Newsline cuts may be edited to suit your needs. If you have additional questions for Jeremy Hill after listening to the WSU Newsline, please call him at (316) 978-5184 or jeremy.hill@wichita.edu.
Background:
Like most states, the Kansas economy has struggled mightily in recent years and this year may be no exception, although the tide may finally be turning. Jeremy Hill, director of the Center for Economic Development and Business Research at Wichita State University, says there are some positive signs.
Voice wrap:
Announcer: The economic news in Kansas, like most states, has mostly been bad in recent years. However, there finally appear to be some encouraging signs, according to Jeremy Hill, director of the Center for Economic Development and Business Research at Wichita State University.
Hill: "Our leading indicator has a couple of real positive signs. We have initial unemployment claims going down. We have the value of new parts for aviation starting to come up, and we're also seeing aviation stock coming up, which all show some positive signs going into 2010."
Announcer: Even so, the economy has a long way to go. Hill says that in 2009 the current economic index, which is an overall thermometer of the overall health of the economy, was the lowest it's been since 1994. This is Joe Kleinsasser at Wichita State University.
Sound bite #1
Hill gives an overview of the Kansas economy and employment picture. The sound bite is 16 seconds and the outcue is "pulling us down."
Hill: "The state economy has had an expansionary period since 2003. Going into 2009, we've had our biggest contraction, about 3.2 percent, which is filtered all through the economy, especially the production sector, which is really pulling us down."
Sound bite #2
Hill says the service sector has performed relatively well at the state level. The sound bite is 17 seconds and the outcue is "retool themselves."
Hill: "At the state level, the service sector only went down slightly. In Wichita, it was a little bit stronger, and it actually improved. The real reason why it improved down in Wichita and it stayed strong at the state level is health and education. People are coming back to get more degrees to retool themselves."
Sound bite #3
Hill says the production sector has suffered recently. The sound bite is 12 seconds and the outcue is "12,000 jobs."
Hill: "The hardest hit sector at the state level was the production sector, specifically manufacturing. That comes actually back to Wichita for the aviation industry, where we lost just over 12,000 jobs."
Sound bite #4
Hill talks about the current economic index. The sound bite is 24 seconds and the outcue is "Kansas City airport."
Hill: "In 2009, our current economic index, which is an overall thermometer of the overall health of the economy, was at the lowest it's been since 1994. The things that have been driving it up, however, were home sales and outbound passengers, not only here in Wichita, but we also saw outbound passengers increase recently at the Kansas City airport."
Sound bite #5
Hill says the unemployment situation may be stabilizing in Wichita. The sound bite is 17 seconds and the outcue is "their economy."
Hill: "The Wichita economy, the ground is starting to firm up on unemployment. We've only had a 0.5 percent decline in total nonfarm. Most of that loss is going to be in production, but we'll see the service sector, again in education and health, really strengthening their economy."
Sound bite #6
Hill expects the state economy to mirror Wichita somewhat. The sound bite is 15 seconds and the outcue is "Wichita area."
Hill: "The state economy is mirroring a little bit of Wichita as only a negative 0.5 percent decline in employment. Production is going to have less of a decline, and the service sector is going to pick up, not as strong as the Wichita area."