Categories: OLD Media Moves

Business news is intimidating to people

Dave Walker, the television columnist for the New Orleans Times-Picayune, visited the set of Fox Business Network‘s “Happy Hour” show as it broadcast from the Crescent City earlier this week.

Walker writes, “‘You don’t see any show, any news program or business program that originates live from a bar and has the kind of guests that we have and is free to do the antics that we do and basically have fun and make business news accessible to people like my friends and family back in San Jose, Calif.,’ said cohost Rebecca Gomez, a Fox News Channel veteran. ‘Business news is very intimidating to people.’

“‘We’re not Wall Street,’ added cohost Cody Willard, an entrepreneur-turned-TV-guy who breaks the button-down mold of business reportage by sporting long hair, jeans and, while at Pat O’Brien’s at least, a colorful jester’s hat and oversized Mardi Gras beads on the air. ‘So much of the Wall Street-Washington angle ends up talking down to people.’

“Launched in October, FBN reaches 35 million cable subscribers (none yet in New Orleans, though the network is carried by satellite) – hence its presence in New Orleans during the cable show. Willard flew in for the broadcast. Gomez — Willard’s on-air nickname for her: ‘Go-Go’ — came early to schmooze cable-company execs at the large Fox networks show-floor booth at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.”