The intersection of political and business reporting gains prominence

Media outlets are covering more stories that discuss the intersection of politics and business because of the financial crisis that the country experienced in 2008 and 2009, said Joshua Green, a senior national correspondent for Bloomberg Businessweek, on Tuesday.

“Government is at the heart of global and U.S. financial health,” said Green. “My job is right at the seam of finance, money and politics.”

Green spoke Tuesday at UNC-Chapel Hill, where he was part of the Carolina Seminar on Business Journalism and Public Policy.  Green was named senior national correspondent for Bloomberg Businessweek in August 2011, focusing on political coverage for the magazine and Businessweek.com.

Green recently became the target of Star Trek fans, and Vox columnist Matthew Iglesias, upset with his comparison of Spock to President Barack Obama. Green said that the criticism didn’t bother him and that he felt good about starting a discussion regarding Obama’s management strategy with the latest Bloomberg Businessweek cover story.

Another journalist asked a question about Green’s cover story during the White House press conference on Monday.

“I felt validated in what I had written even though I offended Tekkies,” said Green. “Policy journalism ought not to be a one-way conduit. You want people to respond.”

In response to a student’s question, Green said it is his job to tell readers who is right and who is wrong and not just provide a he said, she said account of an issue. He also said that there is a hesitancy among some journalists to take sides in stories because they might be considered biased.

“An important job of political reporters, but especially those who understand policy, is to serve as a referee,” said Green. “Ultimately you write for your readers and try to perform a public service.”

Before Bloomberg Businessweek, Green worked at The Atlantic. He also writes a weekly column for the Boston Globe. Green is a graduate of Connecticut College and the Medill School at Northwestern University.