SABEW president asks paper editors to keep strong biz coverage

Dave Kansas, the president of the Society of American Business Editors and Writers, distributed a letter Wednesday to attendees of the American Society of Newspaper Editors asking them to maintain strong business news coverage at their papers.

In the letter, Kansas stated, “We know the industry needs to adapt to maintain its relevance to readers. Some of the biggest changes in the industry have occurred within business sections, such as cutting stock listings, the combination of business and news desks, and placing more breaking business news on newspaper web sites.

“But please consider the vital need for our free society and market economy to have a vigorous, independent and vibrant business press.

“More than ever, business journalism serves an important role in our society. Everything these days revolves around money, including stories on other beats. No one is better equipped to report and write those stories than your business staffs.

“We’d ask that you preserve the aggressive and hard-hitting coverage that your business news desk has provided by understanding their importance to the success of your paper and to your readers. Strong business coverage has, time and time again, proven to be a good thing for newspapers readers.”

Read more here.