This semester, Sharon Bernstein joins the Walter Cronkite School as the third Donald W. Reynolds Visiting Professor in Business Journalism.
Andrew Leckey, the Reynolds Endowed Chair in Business Journalism and president of the Reynolds National Center for Business Journalism, said when choosing the visiting professor, they look for someone distinguished in the field who has experience in business journalism.
Bernstein worked as an assistant business editor at the Los Angeles Times and as a business and finance reporter.
As a visiting professor, Bernstein said she will be a guest speaker in several Cronkite School courses, including a lecture class about business journalism and a hands-on business journalism reporting class.
“Business journalism is incredibly important,” Bernstein said, pointing out that in today’s world, “almost every story has a business component.”
In a time when finance and business play a significant part in so many stories, the watchdog role shifts. Bernstein stressed the importance of this role in the nation’s current economic state.
“For journalists to truly be watchdogs, they have to watch the economy,” Bernstein said.
This will not be Bernstein’s first experience working with Cronkite students. While at the Los Angeles Times, she worked with Cronkite School students Bill Hennigan, Kristena Hansen and Salvador Rodriguez.
Cronkite School alumnus Bill Hennigan, who graduated in December 2008 and is now an aerospace and defense writer at the Los Angeles Times, worked with Bernstein for over two years. “I admired her for being able to find personal angles for business stories,” Hennigan said.
Hennigan pointed out that since many business and finance articles are black and white, being able to find the color in the story is an important skill for reporters.
After working with students and visiting, Bernstein said she is impressed with the Cronkite School. “The facilities are amazing and the professors are amazing,” she added.
In 2010, Leslie Wayne, a New York Times business reporter, was named the first Reynolds Visiting Professor in Business Journalism. In 2011, Susan Lisovicz, a CNN Wall Street reporter, became the second Reynolds Visiting Professor.
“It’s giving students the opportunity to meet professionals,” Leckey said.
Contact the reporter at aubree.abril@asu.edu
