No forward spin in BW stories written by Bloomberg staffers
Former BusinessWeek staff writer Gary Weiss notes that the content in the first issue of the magazine under Bloomberg ownership has some telling keys as to how the magazine’s journalism will change — particularly the lack of a forward-looking spin in one article written by Bloomberg writers. Weiss writes, “But the main thing that struck […]
CJR's Starkman, Chittum remember Bloomberg's Mark Pittman
Dean Starkman and Ryan Chittum of Columbia Journalism Review write Tuesday about Bloomberg reporter Mark Pittman, who recently died, and what he meant to the profession. Starkman writes, “But for me, the thing that needs to be remembered, especially by financial journalists and the people who rely on them, is that Pittman represented an attitude, […]
Biz journalist says goodbye
Rick Haglund, the business and auto writer for the Booth Newspapers in Michigan, writes about how he decided to become a business journalist as he leaves the position. Haglund writes, “As a city hall reporter in Traverse City nearly 30 years ago, it became apparent to me the economy was at least as important to […]
Business news that's fit to print
Andrew Ross Sorkin of The New York Times was answering questions from readers this past week, including this one about when business journalists decide ro go with information. Q. How do you know the difference between what’s “fit to print” and what is confidential or inside information? Is there a line in the sand? Do […]
When sources want to change quotes after publication
Allen Wastler, the managing editor of CNBC.com, writes about the increasing trend of sources who want to change their quotes in online stories after they have been posted. Wastler writes, “A consultant called up wanting to change this (paraphrased) quote — ‘Company X’s management really put their foot in their mouth’ — to something more […]
The language of business journalism
Elinore Longobardi of Columbia Journalism Review writes in the latest issue about how “subprime” lending became more common than “predatory” lending in the business press and what it means for future coverage. Longobardi writes, “Instead of the right word, the press deployed another word — ‘subprime’ — for reasons that are to some extent understandable, […]
The art of the CEO interview
Jon Friedman of Marketwatch.com has a nice interview with financial journalist Duff McDonald about his new book, “Last Man Standing,” about J.P. Morgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon. What’s most intriguing is how McDonald got Dimon to open up about his former mentor, Sandy Weill. Friedman writes, “McDonald recognized that Dimon would be guarded when it […]
Black, white and shades of gray
Damien Hoffman of Wall St. Cheat Sheet interviewed Fox Business Network anchor Liz Claman about her career and how she has covered the markets and companies during the current economic crisis. Here is an excerpt: How has your personal reporting strategy helped you separate yourself from the basic reporting that tends occur in financial journalism? […]
Common excuses from a biz reporter who misses a story
Mark Lacter, who writes LABiz Observed, has a list of top excuses that business reporters make when they get beaten on a story. They include: –Reflexively dismiss the scoop (“Just more of the same – there’s nothing new here” is the common refrain). –Deride the source of the scoop (as CNBC’s David Faber did with […]
The blogging world of Felix Salmon
Marion Maneker of The Big Money examines the influence of Reuters financial blogger Felix Salmon, previously of Portfolio.com. Maneker writes, “In hiring Salmon, Reuters, one of the original one-way communications systems, has acknowledged the importance of fostering open-ended conversations. Salmon’s ability to repackage, recontextualize and reorient the work of other writers is surely the thing […]
