Categories: OLD Media Moves

Scrutinize Apple at $200/share, don't give it praise

TheStreet.com media critic Marek Fuchs wants to know why the business press fell all over themselves in reporting that Apple’s stock passed the $200 threshold instead of examining whether the price had gotten too expensive.

Fuchs wrote, “Here’s the most important element of this coverage: Since $200 was no direct mark of business accomplishment, an investor needs the business media to be skeptical. A devil’s advocate approach to this rise to $200 would serve investors best. That is not to say that reporters should trash Apple, one of the greatest companies in American history. But no one is perfect, and no move past a benchmark number should be automatically greeted with flowers and chocolate. That does no one good, least of all Apple shareholders, who I know from boatloads of emails are too prone to boosterim to begin with.

“As any good investor will tell you, emotions, like love, are an enemy.

“Let’s quickly review examples of the good and the ugly.

“Motley Fool all but struck up the band in tribute to Apple with this effort. ‘Apple at $200 Is Just the Beginning,’ chirps the headline. Naturally, the Fool could be right; Steve Jobs will certainly go down in history. However, investors are best served by an article that questions a move in a stock they own and tests the reasons they invested in Apple in the first place. Would you buy the stock now?”

Read more here.Â

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

Law360 tax reporter Serre departing

Jared Serre, a tax reporter at Law360, is leaving the news organization next month. He…

10 hours ago

Reuters Breakingviews hires WSJ’s Rubin as columnist

Lauren Silva Laughlin, U.S. editor of Reuters Breakingviews, sent out the following on Tuesday: I’m…

12 hours ago

WSJ hires two new staffers, promotes a third

The Wall Street Journal has hired two new staffers and promoted a current staffer. They…

13 hours ago

Fortune launches advice column for entrepreneurs

Fortune magazine has launched "Ask Andy," a bi-weekly advice column for entrepreneurs and start-up founders.…

13 hours ago

WSJ seeks a senior publishing editor

The Wall Street Journal is looking for a full time senior publishing editor to join…

14 hours ago

WSJ seeks a reporter to cover Tesla, Musk

The Wall Street Journal is looking for an experienced and determined reporter to join our…

14 hours ago