CJR unveils new online biz column

The Columbia Journalism Review announced Thursday its newest feature, “The Opening Bell,” a daily online column that reviews, analyzes and critiques the latest highlights of the day’s business news.

Written by former Wall Street Journal reporter Ryan Chittum, “The Opening Bell” will serve as a sophisticated guide to the daily business-news blizzard, flagging both the most significant stories as well as overlooked items that readers should not miss. The column’s goal is to become a daily staple for both seasoned business reporters as well as general readers interested in obtaining a more savvy understanding of business news.

“The Opening Bell” is the latest addition to The Audit, CJR’s online desk for business news analysis and commentary. Led by Kingsford Capital Fellow Dean Starkman, The Audit was launched in 2007 to cheer on, goad or lambaste business and financial journalists as they go about the job of navigating today’s difficult economic climate.

The Audit also features analysis and original reporting on the inner workings of business media by Starkman and The Audit staff, and “Debits and Credits,” a thumbs-up, thumbs-down review of the past week’s news.

“The Audit provides an essential guide to business media and aims to uphold standards and remind business-news outlets of their responsibilities to readers,” said Starkman, who has spent two decades as a business and investigative reporter, including eight years with The Journal.

“It is the only online critique of the business press that aims to assess how well financial news outlets are doing. If you’re a casual reader of the business press and you find it baffling, The Audit aims to help you cut through the confusion.”

Chittum covered technology and real estate for The Journal from 2002 to 2007. He joins Audit fellows Anna Bahney and Elinore Longobardi as staff writers.