Tennessee legislature honors biz reporter Ward

Getahn Ward

The Tennessee House of Representatives honored the late Tennessean business reporter Getahn Ward with a resolution Monday.

Jordan Buie of The Tennessean writes, “Ward, 45, was a longtime real estate reporter, revered community leader and adjunct journalism professor at Tennessee State University, who died on Dec. 16 after a brief illness.

“The House joint resolution, sponsored by Rep. Jason Powell, D-Nashville, celebrates ‘the bountiful life and honor the memory’ of Ward and to ‘reflect fondly upon his many contributions to Nashville as a journalist.’

“‘…the members of this legislative body were saddened to learn of the passing of Getahn Ward, a tenacious and well-informed reporter for The Tennessean, journalism professor, church leader, and beloved figure in his community,’ the resolution reads.

“In an interview, Powell said Ward was a monumental figure who helped shape real estate in Nashville.

“‘He was such a tenacious reporter who really helped the it city by his tenacious coverage,’ said Powell.”

Read more 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.