Wal-Mart meets with reporters next week

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has planned a two-day meeting next week with journalists who write about the world’s largest retailer to help open the lines of communication with the increasingly criticized company.

MarketWatch reporter Jennifer Waters writes, “In only the second time that Wal-Mart (WMT) has opened its doors to reporters, the company is launching the two-day event on Tuesday, with an agenda packed with discussions about the importance of customers and their shopping experience.

“Spokeswoman Sarah Clark said that the company will ‘champion the customer’ during its time with media, as it tries to replace negative publicity about such heady issues as health insurance, the hiring more part-time employees and the possible motives behind efforts to win regulatory approval to operate banks.

“The push is part of a longer-term strategy to be friendlier and more open with the press, which has grown increasingly interested in the goings-on at the world’s largest retailer and employer.”

Read her story here.

The Arkansas Democrat Gazette reported Friday that CEO Lee Scott is delaying a one-month vacation so that he can be on hand for the meetings with the media.