Cool economics reporting resource

Do you cover the local, regional or national economy for your media outlet but aren’t really sure about what you’re doing? If that’s the case, then I ran across this cool resource:

The Center for Economic and Policy Research sends out a weekly newsletter via e-mail called Economics Reporting Review. In it, Dean Baker of CEPR evaluates the economic reporting in the New York Times and Washington Post, citing both the good and the bad. This is its most popular e-newsletter. Baker’s bio can be found here.

An example from the newsletter:

OUTSTANDING STORIES OF THE WEEK

“The Law Rides Into the Valley,” by David Streitfeld in the Washington Post, April 22,
2001, page A1.

This article reports on a series of investigations — and prosecutions — of illegal
activity in Silicon Valley firms. The article notes that there were numerous instances
in which executives at high-tech companies used questionable accounting practices,
engaged in insider trading and even outride fraud.

“Lifting the Curtain on the Real Costs of Making AIDS Drugs,” by Melody Petersen in
the New York Times, April 24, 2001, page C1.

This article examines evidence on the cost of producing AIDS drugs. It points out
that the entrance of generic producers from developing nations has shown that many
of these drugs can be profitably manufactured for 5 percent or less of their market
price in the United States.

“Salomon Faces Complaints Over Options At WorldCom,” by Gretchen Morgensen in
the New York Times, April 24, 2001, page C1.

This article reports on the investment advice that consultants at Salomon Smith
Barney gave employees at WorldCom. According to the article, the consultants gave
advice about dealing with options that benefited WorldCom to the detriment of its
employees. Such practices may have been commonplace at firms that relied on
options as large portion of employee compensation.

I’ve always felt that one of the best ways to learn how to write better business and economics stories is to read and learn from the best. To sign up for this newsletter, go here.