Business journalism like earning an MBA while writing

Herb Greenberg, the Marketwatch columnist who is leaving to start a research firm, writes about his career and what he has learned.

Greenberg writes, “Thanks to tips and insights from Wall Street and elsewhere, I have been among those in the media who have been early in raising red flags over companies that have become vulnerable because of flawed or poorly executed business models, aggressive accounting or hot products that were about to turn cold.

“I also have come across stories that have led to investigations, indictments and even incarcerations. It is a dirty job that doesn’t always win popularity contests, but it has been a blast doing it. The goal, when everything goes right, has been to help investors understand potential risks and avoid losing money.

“Like most journalists, much of what I know about business, investing and economics has been picked up through osmosis. It is the closest you can get to a backdoor MBA — getting paid, in the process. Of course, just when you think you have figured it out, something comes out of left field to remind you that the lessons never really stop.”

Read more here.