The NYTimes and its use of anonymous sources in biz stories
Margaret Sullivan, the public editor of the New York Times, writes about how the paper’s business news desk used anonymous sources when writing that golfer Phil Mickelson was being investigated for insider trading. Sullivan writes, “I talked with the business editor, Dean Murphy, on Tuesday about one of the cases mentioned above: A story that […]
Fortune’s Serwer: Good business journalism can be positive
Public relations professionals and others shouldn’t classify stories about companies as “good” or “bad,” said Fortune magazine managing editor Andy Serwer. Good business journalism can relate positive stories, but the best stories are stories that are unusual and different, he added. “If we told only good stories, that would mean that the world is inherently […]
Apple PR vs. other tech companies
Kara Swisher of Re/code writes Friday about the retirement of Apple PR head Katie Cotton and her reputation among tech reporters of being the most difficult person to work with. Swisher writes, “But, despite what many of her detractors have written since the news of her departure came, I was never ‘scared’ of her, any […]
Frankie Flack: Why can’t I get more biz reporters to go OTR?
I used to gossip more, back in the good old days. A reporter would ring me up, I’d give her the line of the day. Then I’d ask: “Want to go off the record?” She’d say, “Sure!” And we’d be off to the races: who was up, who was down, what was rumored to be […]
Unauthorized books and business journalists
Madeline Will, a business journalism student at UNC-Chapel Hill, writes about the difficulty some business journalists face in getting companies to cooperate with them while writing books about their operations. Will writes, “Many companies decline to cooperate altogether, forcing journalists to obtain information in other ways. Other companies grant limited access, with a list of […]
How NPR’s Geewax made the Piketty book more understandable
National Public Radio has had a couple of radio stories about how Thomas Piketty’s book has been getting a lot of attention, but the stories did not deeply dig into what he was actually saying. So senior business editor Marilyn Geewax wanted to use the web as a tool to help connect with its audience on […]
Grant to help improve coverage of company earnings
The David and Helen Gurley Brown Institute for Media Innovation has awarded one of its 2014-2015 “Magic Grants” to a team of students who want to improve how business reporters cover earnings. In direct response to criticisms of the rigor of business journalism, Earnings Inspector will provide business journalists a new tool to make the […]
Claman: Biz reporting is about striking a balance
Jeff Pfeiffer of Channel Guide Magazine interviewed Fox Business Network anchor Liz Claman about her job, including how she plans before interviewing billionaire Warren Buffett. Here is an excerpt: When you report on business, are you aiming toward insiders who already know the details of the business and financial world, or do you also try […]
NYT’s Morgenson talks about covering Wall Street
The New York Times has posted a Q&A with business news staffer Gretchen Morgenson on her career and how she does her job. Here is an excerpt: Q. Where do you get your ideas? A. They come from a wide array of places. Most are from sources I have cultivated on Wall Street over the […]
Frankie Flack: Don’t ignore PR people; tell them to get lost
When I talk to business journalists about flacks, they all have the same complaint: too much contact. Too much email. Too many phone calls. Especially from junior folks who haven’t learned the rules of the road. I’m going to tell you all how to mitigate that problem. Listen up, hacks. If you heed my advice, […]
