Boning up on bankruptcy coverage

The Society of American Business Editors and Writers is offering a conference call next Wednesday, June 25, for business journalists to ask questions from bankruptcy court experts on where to look for stories.

Difficult economic conditions have left many corporations, small businesses and families turning to the bankruptcy courts for relief. Good stories abound for journalists who understand the process and can develop sources among the many players at the bankruptcy table. SABEW has a panel of experts to help guide the way.

The call will be held June 25 at 11:30 a.m. Eastern Standard Time.

The panelists will include Samuel J. Gerdano, executive director of the American Bankruptcy Institute and previously chief legal counsel to Sen. Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa). Gerdano was staff director for the Subcommittee on Courts and Administrative Practice of the Senate Judiciary Committee and assistant chief counsel for advocacy for the Small Business Administration.

Also on the panel will be Henry F. Owsley, founding partner of the Gordian Group in New York City, which specializes in the restructuring of financially distressed businesses. Clients have included Ben & Jerry’s, Chiquita Brands, Morrison Knudsen, Olympia & York, Phar-Mor and Zale, as well as the Federal Communications Commission, the Office of Thrift Supervision and the State of Vermont.

Vikas Bajaj, a business reporter at The New York Times who covers a variety of business and financial stories, will also be on the panel. He previously reported for The Dallas Morning News, The Associated Press in Bangkok and The Chronicle of Higher Education in Washington.

Sandra Block, personal finance reporter at USA Today, writes the Your Money column and is co-author of The Busy Family’s Guide to Money, will also be on the call. Among her areas of coverage is personal bankruptcy.

Those wishing to listen to the call should dial 1-218-486-7200. You will then be prompted for the conference bridge number, which is 695986. To send questions in advance, please e-mail Josh Mills, joshmills@optonline.net. Â