How Ahuja of Forbes developed a reputation for source development

Russell Sherman of the “Press Profiles” podcast interviewed Maneet Ahuja of Forbes on her ability to develop relationships with sources, particularly hedge fund managers.

Ahuja, who has worked at CNBC and The Wall Street Journal, started off in investment banking. It was that background that helped her develop a relationship with hedge fund manager David Einhorn, who during the 2008 financial crisis predicted the demise of Lehman Brothers.

“It seemed like an opportunity to develop a relationship,” said Ahuja, who noted that many were skeptical about Einhorn’s claim.

After Lehman went under, Ahuja began covering more hedge fund news and working the managers to conduct interviews.

“It’s just working the phones, cold calling like on the trading desk,” said Ahuja. She notes that she initially asked hedge fund manager David Tepper for an interview in 2009, but the interview didn’t occur until 2011.

Ahuja said she is relentless, but has also been in the right place at the right time.

To listen, go here.

Chris Roush

Chris Roush was the dean of the School of Communications at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Connecticut. He was previously Walter E. Hussman Sr. Distinguished Professor in business journalism at UNC-Chapel Hill. He is a former business journalist for Bloomberg News, Businessweek, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Tampa Tribune and the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. He is the author of the leading business reporting textbook "Show me the Money: Writing Business and Economics Stories for Mass Communication" and "Thinking Things Over," a biography of former Wall Street Journal editor Vermont Royster.