Categories: OLD Media Moves

How WSJ’s Mattioli broke the Precision Castparts deal story

Dana Mattioli

Dana Mattioli, a mergers and acquisitions reporter for The Wall Street Journal in New York, talks about how she broke the story of Berkshire Hathaway’s 2015 agreement to acquire Precision Castparts, the largest such deal in Warren Buffett’s storied career.

Mattioli said she first heard about the deal on her way to her best friend’s wedding rehearsal.

“I have my friends pull over so I can get out of the car and call my editor, and we immediately start planning,” said Mattioli. “Obviously, the timing isn’t great.”

Mattioli and her editor, Dana Cimilluca, begin calling sources in an attempt to confirm the deal. “We don’t want to get scooped,” says Mattioli. “By the time we’re at the rehearsal dinner, my phone is dangerously low on battery. The only power outlet is in the women’s bathroom, so I lock myself in there.”

By the next morning, Mattioli is with the bridal party getting ready for the wedding when she gets a call from a source.

“He confirms the deal and adds, ‘Your bunny has a good nose,’ which is an inside joke on Wall Street,” said Mattioli. “So I call my editor to get everything ready to go, and he has to park his kids at a fast food play area just so that we can publish as soon as possible.”

The story was posted on the Journal’s website on Saturday afternoon and ran on the front page Monday. “By the way, it was a really beautiful wedding,” he said.

To listen to Mattioli, 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.

Recent Posts

Business Insider founder Blodget is leaving company

Business Insider founder Henry Blodget sent out the following on Friday: Team, Seventeen years ago,…

1 hour ago

Dow Jones reports slight increases in revenue, earnings

Dow Jones & Co., the parent of The Wall Street Journal, MarketWatch.com, Barron's and Investor's…

3 hours ago

The Independent hires Baragona as senior reporter

The Independent has hired Justin Baragona as a senior reporter. He will be covering the intersection of…

5 hours ago

Econ Reporting Hardship Program sets up Ledbetter Fund

Author and editor James Ledbetter was a beloved friend, Economic Hardship Reporting Project Board member…

6 hours ago

FT names Brower US news editor, Edgecliffe-Johnson departing

Financial Times editor in chief Roula Khalaf sent out the following on Friday: Hello everyone I'm pleased…

6 hours ago

WSJ’s Brown is leaving publication

Ken Brown of The Wall Street Journal is leaving the news organization. He is an…

1 day ago