WSJ’s Wirz on making debt and fixed income an interesting story for readers

Matt Wirz

Russell Sherman of “Press Profiles” interviewed Matt Wirz of The Wall Street Journal, who covers debt, fixed income and credit.

“I like the ugly stepchild stories. They’re usually more interesting,” said Wirz about his beat. “It’s hard to explain, and it underlies the fabric…of the financial markets.”

Wirz was co-finder and editor in chief of Debtwire, which he sold to the Financial Times.

He said he used people to make his stories more understandable and to explain a complicated topic. And, he added, “A good lead goes a really long way. You don’t have to start with what you’re trying to explain.”

Wirz said he got into financial reporting because he didn’t understand how markets work. “I need to understand this, and I don’t,” he said.

To listen, go here.

Chris Roush

Chris Roush was the dean of the School of Communications at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Connecticut. He was previously Walter E. Hussman Sr. Distinguished Professor in business journalism at UNC-Chapel Hill. He is a former business journalist for Bloomberg News, Businessweek, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Tampa Tribune and the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. He is the author of the leading business reporting textbook "Show me the Money: Writing Business and Economics Stories for Mass Communication" and "Thinking Things Over," a biography of former Wall Street Journal editor Vermont Royster.