The five core missions of business journalism

Longtime business journalist Rick Dunham, who runs the global business journalism program at Tsinghua University in China, talks about the five core missions of business journalism.

“These core goals are informing the public, interpreting economic trends, holding power accountable, guiding decision-making, and telling broader stories about innovation and inequality,” said Dunham.

Business journalism seeks to inform the public by demystifying complex concepts from interest rates to global supply chains, said Dunham. “It translates jargon so everyone can understand the implications,” he said. “It’s not just about the what, but also the why and how. Connecting distant corporate decisions to everyday lives.”

He added: “Despite challenges like misinformation and revenue model shifts, the mission of business journalism persists. Remember that strong business journalism serves as a vital resource for the global public.”