FT’s Massoudi on looking for characters to tell stories

Russell Sherman spoke with Financial Times corporate finance and deals editor Arash Massoudi about covering business on his “Press Profiles” podcast.

Massoudi broke the story about how the Saudi Arabian wealth fund bought 5 percent in Tesla even though he wasn’t actively covering the company by simply following the money. Tesla CEO Elon Musk eventually credited him for breaking the story during a trial.

He said he tries not to follow the ball that other journalists are following.

“There’s a lot more luck than people think in these things,” said Massoudi. “There is skill too.”

Massoudi said he applied for a job at the FT for three years before being accepted. He was working in the federal government.

“You can’t get complacent,” said Massoudi, noting that the imposter syndrome remains strong despite a decade in the field. He said talking with new sources energizes him to keep pushing. “I look for characters who are interesting,” he said. “…You try to shed life on them.”

To listen, go here.