while (some_condition_is_true()) {
    ...
    my $epname = some_string();
    ...
    print "for debug: \$epname is '$epname' \n";
    ...
    }

$newTitle = $epname;  # variable does not exist here

##</code><code>##

my $epname;

while (some_condition_is_true()) {
    ...
    $epname = some_string();  # do NOT declare new variable
    ...
    }

$newTitle = $epname;  # variable exists, has value here