Kernen: Business news has become more important

Steve Watkins of the Cincinnati Business Courier interviewed Joe Kernen, the co-host of CNBC’s “Squawk Box,” about how business journalism has changed in the 20 years that the show has aired.

Wtakins writes, “‘As the years have gone by, importance and relevance of business news and economic news has grown so much,’ Kernen told me in an exclusive interview on Thursday morning. ‘There are times I can’t imagine anyone watching anything else in the morning. You can only watch so many recipes and general news. The ability to succeed, help your family live better lives and send your kids to the best schools is all tied to business and the economy. It’s gratifying to be able to make something understandable, even though it might be about the Federal Reserve, GDP or the European Union.

“‘You try to make it not just understandable but also not like watching paint dry.’

“Kernen is still going strong as the only one to work on the show for two decades. Maybe it’s those light-hearted moments that help keep him and the show fresh. He went on the air with a cutout of Austin Powers at one point in the 1990s and has played sound effects from movies on the air.”

Read more here.