Michael Lewis: Business journalism sucks

Liam Halligan of The Spectator interviewed “The Big Short” author Michael Lewis about the state of business journalism and financial markets reforms. Halligan writes, “‘I’m not saying there aren’t good financial journalists,’ he concedes. But the qualification seems half-hearted — and is quickly reversed. ‘The Wall Street Journal is a much worse newspaper than it was 20 years ago,’ […]

Why the best investment advice is too boring for TV

Harold Pollack of The Atlantic writes about why the best investment advice of buying and holding stocks is not well suited for television business news. Pollack writes, “That’s precisely the message the financial media ought to send in turbulent times, when ordinary investors are most tempted to engage in panic-selling—or alternatively, trying to be clairvoyant in […]

Dallas Morning News biz columnist to write for editorial page

Dallas Morning News business columnist Mitch Schnurman will also write editorials the the editorial page. Keven Ann Willey of the Morning News writes, “Effective Jan. 4, Metro columnists Jack Floyd and James Ragland and business columnist Mitch Schnurman – already among the most accomplished writers at The News – will bring their talents to the editorial board as […]

How Farhad Manjoo writes his NYT tech column

Farhad Manjoo, tech columnist for The New York Times, sat down with Communications Network Board member and Knight Foundation vice president of communications Andrew Sherry to discuss the future of how we communicate, the disruptions to come, and whether or not robots will take your job. Here is an excerpt: Tell us, basically, how you […]

New day, new author for Des Moines biz column

Joel Aschbrenner is the new Biz Buzz columnist at the Des Moines Register, and the column will appear on Sundays instead of Tuesdays. Aschbrenner writes, “Biz Buzz was created by longtime Register business columnist David Elbert and executive business editor Lynn Hicks. More recently, Hicks manned the Buzz helm solo. “Elbert and Hicks provided a look […]

We shall overcomb: The 2015 Financial Follies

The 73rd annual Financial Follies, a “Dinner and Entertainment Gala” hosted by the New York Financial Writers’ Association, took place this past Friday, Nov. 13. The Follies is an evening of song and dance and food and tuxes that raises money for student scholarships provided by the organization. This was my third Financial Follies, so […]

Bloomberg Gadfly debuts on Sunday

Joe Pompeo of Politico writes about the debut of Bloomberg Gadfly, a new website that went live Sunday with an initial team of about two dozen journalists devoted to fast-turnaround analysis pieces in the range of 400 to 800 words. Pompeo writes, “Gadfly is the latest addition to Bloomberg’s journalism empire, which includes Bloomberg News, […]

Chicago Tribune biz columnist leaves paper

Melissa Harris, the Pulitzer Prize-nominated journalist and Chicago Tribune business columnist, has been hired by Origin Capital Partners as vice president of marketing. Harris has been hired to oversee the firm’s new online real estate crowdfunding platform. She started last week. She is a two-time finalist for The Livingston Award, honoring outstanding reporting by journalists […]

Reuters Breakingviews seeks Washington columnist

Reuters Breakingviews is seeking a columnist to enhance its agenda-setting coverage of the U.S. capital. This is a unique role within the Washington press corps, especially heading into a presidential election. It’s an opportunity to break away from the day-to-day horse race and focus exclusively on the economic and financial issues that matter most to a […]

Dear beat reporters: You better know other sectors as well

There are lots of business sectors. And they are fun to cover. And not just as individual beats, but as a group. “Sectors? Careful, you’re dating yourself,” said an editor acquaintance during a recent meeting. She gestured out at the vast newsroom beyond her office. “Most of the kids out there wouldn’t know what you’re […]