Houston Chronicle wants to grow its business news desk

The Houston Chronicle, whose top editor was once a business editor of a metro daily, is seeking to increase the size of its business news desk.

Business editor Laura Goldberg tells Talking Biz News that “We are creating several new business jobs, including to cover banking and finance and to cover non-energy public companies. We will add a business of healthcare reporter through an internal transfer. Our new editor, Nancy Barnes, is committed to increasing the resources devoted to covering Houston’s dynamic business community.”

Barnes is the former business editor at the Minneapolis Star-Tribune before becoming its top editor. She joined the Chronicle in 2013.

Goldberg recently added a new reporter Ryan Holeywell to cover energy. He last worked at Governing magazine, covering transportation and municipal finance for its website and print product. Holeywell also worked at BailoutSleuth.com, covering the financial crisis and bailout.

“With Ryan, we now have 10 business reporters,” said Goldberg. “Once the open spots are filled – including another additional position I anticipate adding later this year – we will have 16 reporters.”

The Chronicle’s business news desk is also seeking to hire a columnist and an investigative/enterprise reporter to work on its energy team.