Faltering economy is not business journalism's fault

Chuck Melvin, assistant managing editor for business news at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, writes Sunday that he doesn’t believe, as some do, that negative coverage about business and the economy has contributed to the current economic turmoil.

Melvin writes, “We get no kick out of sorry news. Contrary to popular opinion, bad news doesn’t sell newspapers. Think about it: If bad news sold newspapers, the Packers’ 2008 season would have sent our circulation through the roof.

“And we are constantly on the lookout for ‘good news’ stories. In today’s economic atmosphere, the most newsworthy stories can be those that tell of businesses that are expanding, factories that are hiring, shops that have found ways to draw more customers. Such news doesn’t just perk us up; it can also help other businesses find ways to cope — and to grow. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have a story like that to tell.

“Throughout the past year, we carried many of these types of articles, with headlines such as ‘It’s a good time to buy a second home’ and ‘What goes down must come up.’ We featured local companies drawing new investors, developing innovative products, finding ways to thrive in a difficult environment. We highlighted differences between the economies of southeast Wisconsin and the nation as a whole. On the front page today, we tell a story of companies in the region that have bucked the economic trend and are continuing to look for people to hire.”

Read more here.