Business journalism is an area that is very diverse and important for journalists to be well-versed in, according to business reporting experts.
Not only is it important for journalists to understand business reporting, but having a specialization could help them in the job market, panelists said at a Must See Mondays event at the Walter Cronkite School.
“Having a specialization is not only a good idea… but also a form of self-preservation,” said Andrew Leckey, president of Reynolds National Center for Business Journalism. Leckey said employers often hired those with the most skills.
Leckey said the basics of business journalism and how to make money are pieces of knowledge that everyone should have.
Christina Leonard, director of the Donald W. Reynolds Business Bureau, spoke about the diversity of business journalism.
“Money touches everything, so there is a great range of stories one can do,” she said.
The panelists also gave advice to give to student journalists in the audience.
“I don’t know if you can plot out your entire career but you should definitely set goals, and definitely have a specialization,” Leonard said.
Since the targeted audience was students, some of which only beginning their journalism education, Susan Lisovicz, a visiting professor, spoke on the importance of enjoying this learning process.
Continuing the theme of education, Michelle Maynard, director of Donald W. Reynolds National Center, encouraged students to be as involved as they could while they are still learning. Maynard said students should take Leckey’s classes and gain experience. She also suggested that students should get into the habit of reading the Forbes list of billionaires.
Maynard said students should look for patterns within the success stories. Students should question the motives and reasons behind all of those successful people in the hopes of being on that list someday as well, said Maynard.
The panelists also discussed success stories in new innovation. One of the youngest people on the Forbes List was 24-year-old Evan Spiegel, creator of the photo sharing mobile app, Snapchat.
“Nothing surprises me anymore,” Maynard said. “It seems like the latest app we have on our phones is the one that is making the most money.”
Lisovicz spoke about the pull of business journalism and the money behind such large companies. She said discovering how companies receive their funding is an education within itself.
“Business is one of the things you should be well versed in,” Lisovicz said.
Kristin Gilger, associate dean of the Cronkite School, prompted the topic of data journalism. Maynard spoke on the importance of data and numbers in business stories. Data tells stories, Maynard said.
Maynard shard a humbling experience from a time when she relied on the funding platform, Kickstarter. She compared business with Kickstarter to Girl Scout cookies. First the target audience must like your idea, your personality and then the basis of your organization.
Leckey said reporting in business has taught him a lot about human nature.
“You gain understanding of what money and power does to people,” Leckey said.
Leckey spoke about the benefit of reporting in business, and how students can get employment by having this extra skill.
“The way that news has evolved, it falls right into the hands of those that have an understanding of business journalism,” Leckey said. “People read stories that effect them and their pocket book.”
Lisovicz said the two things she learned most as a business journalist are humility and relevance.
Madalyn Heimann, a journalism sophomore, said she attended because she was interested in the subject. Heimann said she has been told of the importance of branching out in the journalism field.
“You can’t specialize in one thing,” Heimann said. “You need to be able to do a lot of things.”
Editor’s note: Salvador Rodriguez, a Downtown Devil publisher, appeared via Skype during the event. He did not contribute to the editing or reporting of this story.
Contact the reporter at lauren.negrete@asu.edu
