Former newspaper editor Ken Doctor examines the launch of Slate’s Big Money business news site, run by editor James Ledbetter, and argues that it makes sense for a variety of reasons.
Doctor writes, “Other than the social stock index, what you won’t see is one staple of every other business site –- personal finance. Per Fi usually brings in lots of (now nervous) readers and advertisers intending to reach them.
“‘There’s a kind of dishonesty behind it, [per fi]’ says Ledbetter. ‘If everyone can get rich, they would.’
“I wish The Big Money luck. Smart people’s lack of business understanding drives me nuts. In addition, there is a certain sameness to most of the business coverage out there, and the web’s not supposed to be boring. I think it’s kind of a small start, though, especially in light of how the big boys are ramping up. With expansion, I’d like to see such additions as Slate V (an ONA finalist) for Business, with business video ripe for satire. Or Mark Fiore-like interactive cartoons.
“And lots more blogs, widening coverage areas within the site’s spirit. And, lastly, it wouldn’t be bad to take on such data-rich projects as the Credit Crisis, the Sub-Prime Meltdown or the decade’s Transfer of Wealth, stories just waiting to be told, with interactive web tools a great aid in storytelling.”
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