When subjects of business news stories cry “fake news”

Dana Melius of the St. Peter Herald in southern Minnesota writes about how the subjects of business news coverage at his paper and its sister papers have recently accused the newspapers of “fake news.”

Melius writes, “But this concept of fake news has drifted down to the local level, as well. In the past couple months, reporters in our Southern Minnesota tier of four newspapers — St. Peter, Waseca, Le Center and Le Sueur — have reported on at least five business deals in which involved parties cried foul regarding our stories. Some went so far as to belittle those reports via social media.

“One problem? The stories and our reporters hit the target right on with each business deal. We simply reported the facts.

“Business reporting can be difficult. Prospective buyers or developers often don’t want to let the news out early, in case other potential suitors get word and enter the market. Some simply like privacy in such business deals. And we respect that.

“But we still have a job, and business reporting on several fronts remains important. First, if public dollars or policies are involved or affected, citizens have a right to know. Second, public interest in local economic issues remains strong. If a particular company or brand is heading to town, readers respond with interest.”

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.