The future of business journalism

Oklahoman business writer Steve Lackmeyer interviewed Oklahoma State University journalism professor Joey Senat about the future of business journalism in the wake of News Corp. CEO Rupert Murdoch‘s decision to acquire The Wall Street Journal and the impending launch of Fox Business Network.

Here is an excerpt:

Q: Has the disappearance of stock pages from newspaper business sections changed the public’s perception of financial reporting?

A: The public can receive updated stock information online at any hour of the day, so running stock pages seems to be the equivalent of newspapers publishing rush-hour traffic reports. Newspapers — at least in their ink-and-paper format — can’t compete in that sense, but they can provide what television, bloggers and independent Web sites often don’t — credible, in-depth reporting on business, labor, financial institutions and the economy in general. So the public should be finding the business pages more relevant, not less.

Q: Do you foresee further changes in business reporting in the future?

A: Too much of what passes for business reporting today is nothing more than free publicity for companies. But as the public demands more from the business page, newspapers will change to fill that need. Substance. Credibility. Relevance. Those are the keys for great business reporting, and the news outlets that provide it will find an audience. The days of the sleepy business page are gone.

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