Harry Ortof

Research Analyst

Bayside, New York

UMASS Amherst and Fordham Gabelli School of Business alumnus. Skilled communicator, bridging complex topics for diverse audiences, with a passion for social impact and business innovation.

Harry Ortof

Research Analyst

Bayside, New York

UMASS Amherst and Fordham Gabelli School of Business alumnus. Skilled communicator, bridging complex topics for diverse audiences, with a passion for social impact and business innovation.

China’s Playing Hardball with Big Tech
Xi Jinping, the Chinese Communist Party leader, has been suppressing Chinese technology companies at an unprecedented rate. On Monday, Sept. 13, Reuters reported that China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) told Chinese technology companies to stop blocking their competitions links or face the consequences.
FDIC Launches #GetBanked to Promote Financial Inclusion
On April 6, 2021, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) launched a public awareness campaign in Atlanta and Houston to highlight the benefits of having a bank account. The campaign will focus on the roughly 7.1 million U.S. adults that are “unbanked,” or do not have their own bank accounts.
The Immersive Vincent van Gogh Exhibit Through the Eyes of a New Yorker
Before I bought my tickets for Massimiliano Siccardi’s Immersive van Gogh, I didn’t know what to expect. I wouldn’t call myself an art fanatic — I’d visited the Museum of Modern Art several times but never connected with the artists. I couldn’t feel the emotions they tried to convey, nor get excited by terms like ‘abstract expressionism’ or ‘romanticism.’.
The Incredible US Economic Recovery, and Why It's a Problem
After being ravaged by the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States is seeing its fastest economic growth in decades. Almost half of Americans are vaccinated, states and cities are beginning to reopen, and the labor market is close to pre-pandemic levels. However, there are unintended consequences of short-term, unchecked economic growth.
Non-Fungible Tokens: A Collector’s Delight
Digital media has transformed the way we interact with one another. It’s also created an entirely new marketplace for collectors, allowing them to own what are now known as non-fungible tokens, or NFTs. NFTs can best be described as a digital certificate of authenticity. NFTs are another form of blockchain-based assets like Bitcoin (BTC).
Dissecting President Biden’s $1.9 Trillion COVID Relief Package
Dissecting President Biden’s $1.9 Trillion COVID Relief Package. Whenever I read about President Biden’s stimulus package, I immediately think of the living room scene in Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction. Vincent (John Travolta) and Lance (Eric Stoltz) are frantically trying to resuscitate Mia (Uma Thurman), who has overdosed.
Bitcoin reached $58,000. Now What?
On Tuesday, February 21, Bitcoin’s (BTC) value reached $58,000. This is an astonishing deviation from just a few months ago. On Dec. 11 2020, BTC was worth only $18,000. For many investors, crypto currencies are risky at best; their volatile nature can frighten even the most bullish buyers. Not to mention the fact that one of its earliest exchangers, Mt. Gox, filed for liquidation in 2014, citing several roadblocks. But BTC has become more mainstream in recent years, and with over $1 trillion in market circulation (as of February 19, 2021), it cannot be considered fictitious anymore. So, the question remains: To buy, or not to buy?
Not Here, Not Now, Not This Family
This is the story of Lucio Perez, a Guatemalan immigrant who has been living in sanctuary at First Church Amherst for over two years. My reporting process consisted of interviews with various members of First Church Amherst, extensive secondary research about various forms of immigration and sanctuary law and from my own experiences at First Church Amherst.
Almost 50 years later, the Pentagon Papers are still significant
After Daniel Ellsberg leaked the Pentagon Papers to the New York Times, the media landscape was permanently altered.
UMASS Amherst hosts Massachusetts Appeals Court hearings
UMass Amherst hosted the Massachusetts Appeals Court on Tuesday, Oct. 1 to broaden public awareness, understanding and accessibility of the Massachusetts court system.
Environmental rights defender Gloria Ushigua discusses her activism at UMass
Leader of the Sápara women’s organization Ashiñwaka Gloria Ushigua spoke about her activism in the Ecuadorian Amazon Wednesday, Sept. 25, five days after the UMass Amherst Sunrise Movement’s “Walk Out for Climate” rally. “The territory is mine; the territory is of the spirits living under the earth and under the water."
UMass Dining: the price of being “number one”
“What are people without meal plans doing for food?” “Where can I find extra money to afford food?” These are questions being asked by Cornell University students in a GroupMe thread called ‘The Whole Community,’ a place where undergraduates can ask questions and discuss their issues. Food insecurity is a growing issue on college campuses, and with rising costs of tuition and living expenses, these questions are becoming more difficult to answer.
The state of legalization: Effects of marijuana dispensaries on state welfare
With the opening of a new dispensary in North Amherst, it's important to consider the pros and cons of a legal marijuana industry. With the recent legalization of marijuana in Massachusetts and the concern over opening new dispensaries in the Town of Amherst, I find myself asking whether state economies have benefited from the legalization of marijuana.
The kids are not alright: How the Parkland survivors are reshaping the gun control conversation
After almost every mass shooting in America, a usual course of action would follow — GOP leaders who receive millions in donations from the NRA offer their thoughts and prayers while pretending to care, people argue over social media about the Second Amendment, and Democrats try to push through gun control bills Republicans say will never work. It was a familiar cycle until the survivors of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting got involved.
“Penn Face”: The ugly truth about mental health on college campuses
“What Made Maddy Run” by Kate Fagan is the story of a 19-year-old girl named Madison Holleran, a track runner and student at the University of Pennsylvania. According to Fagan’s article Split Image, Holleran was beautiful, talented and successful, the epitome of what every young girl hopes to become.
Is Amazon too big?
The deal between Whole Foods and Amazon became official in August. The first order of business? Cut prices at the high-end grocery store by 43 percent, sending a huge shockwave throughout the $800 billion supermarket industry, and to competitors like Walmart and Costco. Many investors and consumers alike are thinking the same thing: Has Amazon finally violated an anti-trust law and seized control of too much of the retail market?

About

Harry Ortof

Online Content Publication

Social Media

Marketing

Business Communications

Data Analysis

Microsoft Office

Lexis Nexis

Cision/Meltwater

Content Management

Hootsuite

Google Ads

As a lifelong New Yorker, I continually seek opportunities to collaborate, network, and advance the causes I hold dear.

Through my writing, I have demonstrated the ability to distill complex information into engaging narratives, making seemingly daunting subjects approachable to a broad audience. It's allowed me to connect with diverse readers and professionals, igniting thought-provoking discussions and inspiring positive change.

On the other end of the spectrum, I've embraced the world of business and innovation. Writing about venture capital and emerging technologies demonstrates my awareness of the cutting-edge trends shaping industries and economies.

My unique combination of business knowledge and social awareness opens doors to journalism, consulting, research, and policy analysis roles. I possess the potential to influence and drive progress across various sectors.

I maintain a forward-looking mindset, staying up-to-date with the latest developments in my areas of expertise and consistently seek opportunities to deepen my knowledge. My unwavering dedication to growth and learning sets me apart as an exceptional and dynamic professional.