North Texas biz journalism program founder dies

George Christy, a University of North Texas finance professor who helped create the university’s business journalism program, died in December, according to an article in the NT Daily student newspaper.

Christy also wrote several finance columns in the Denton Record-Chronicle and The Dallas Morning News in the 1980s and 1990s and offered expert commentary on national economic issues for several media outlets. He also served for more than a decade on The News’ Board of Economists, beginning in the early 1980s.

The North Texas business journalism program is one of the oldest in the country, although it is not that well-known outside of Texas. Its Web site says, “This is considered a specialty field of journalism. UNT’s program is the only one in Texas. If you are interested in business writing and choose this option, you will learn about accounting, business computer information systems, business law, editing, feature writing, finance, management, marketing, microcomputer applications for newspapers and magazines, public relations and reporting.”