Green and Clean: How to Cover Renewable Energy
By Tiffany Hsu June 20, 2016
Renewable energy is a beat that’s full of compelling stories for journalists to tell. Tales of prospectors, abandoned projects and risk-taking cowboys abound. But because so much of the technology is new and the subject so heavily politicized, it can be tough to get the real story. Tiffany Hsu, former reporter for the Los Angeles Times and a recent Knight Bagehot fellow, breaks it down for us.
In Africa, Covering Business the Bloomberg Way
By Jacob Kushner April 5, 2016
Bloomberg believes that the story of Africa’s economic development is woefully under-covered. Two years ago, Michael Bloomberg launched Bloomberg Media Initiative Africa, a $10 million fund to “build media capacity, convene international leaders and improve access to information” on the continent. We spoke to Bloomberg editors to see how it’s going.
The Blood in Your Phone: Covering Conflict Minerals
By Jacob Kushner February 29, 2016
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s eastern region has been ravaged by mineral-fueled violence for decades, killing more people than any other conflict since World War II. Covering Business spoke with Michael Kavanagh, a veteran Bloomberg reporter in Congo, about how to report on this complex and divisive subject.
The Big Business of Nonprofits
By Marni Usheroff October 15, 2015
Some tax-exempt groups look a lot like for-profit companies. Take the National Football League, which grabbed headlines last year when it announced it would drop its tax-exempt status. NFL teams earned a reported $10 billion in 2013, and had been criticized by lawmakers for raking in revenue while maintaining its tax break. We look at what separates nonprofits from other businesses and how to dig into their finances.
In Pursuit of Africa’s Missing Trillion
By Jacob Kushner October 1, 2015
As media outlets beef up their coverage of African business and corruption, investigative journalists are looking into one giant source of plunder: “transfer pricing” deals between African leaders and foreign corporations. We offer some resources for reporters interested in covering the subject.
Hungarian Journalists Fight Media Clampdown with Startups
By Damaris Colhoun July 14, 2015
Atlatszo and Direkt36 aim to expose high-level government corruption and the misuse of public funds, but the challenges are many.
Apps, Laptops and Cupcakes in the Developing World
By Jacob Kushner February 25, 2015
Five strategies for covering social entrepreneurship, innovation and start-ups in Africa and other developing countries.
Getting Scoops in Southeast Asia
By Minsi Chung February 17, 2015
Newley Purnell of the Wall Street Journal says being accurate and getting the story right is the best way to build a source network, but that it’s often the people you least expect to know about your beat who provide the freshest ideas.
Outsiders in the Art Market
By Damaris Colhoun January 27, 2015
The art world’s growing connection to finance capitalism makes it a subject that more business journalists should be paying attention to, and being outsider on the beat can help you cover it better.
Chasing Down Facts in Post-Soviet States
By Maria Danilova November 24, 2014
A lack of public accountability and reputation for bribe-taking among journalists makes getting good information and winning the trust of sources a difficult proposition in Ukraine and other former Soviet republics. Here are a few strategies for getting the goods.
Covering Business in a Conflict Zone
By Sameepa Shetty November 3, 2014
Patricia Sabga, veteran war correspondent and global economics reporter for Al Jazeera America, offers some advice for journalists covering business in conflict zones: Protect yourself, think like the military and ask simple questions.
From Smartphones to Nerf Guns: How to Review Gadgets
By Marni Usheroff October 13, 2014
While the gadget beat might seem pretty straightforward there’s more to quality coverage than one might realize. We chatted with Gizmodo’s reviews editor, Sean Hollister, about what makes a good gadgets reporter.
Writing About Corporate Bankruptcy
By Mark Glassman May 19, 2014
Bankruptcy may not be the beat you’ve always dreamed about, but if you approach it the right way, it can yield gripping stories and put you on the map. It can allow you to speak truth to power and give victims a voice
What’s Different About the Tech Beat
By Rob Norton May 5, 2014
Technology is everywhere, and people in the industry are really jazzed about what they do. But you still need to keep your BS detector working.
How to Cover Exchange-Traded Funds
By Lawrence Carrel April 15, 2013
In less than twenty years, the assets of exchange-traded funds have ballooned to more than $1 trillion. Now, many financial news organizations dedicate full-time reporters to these investment vehicles. Here’s what you need to know.
Photo: Rolf Kleef
Covering Pensions: The Nest Egg on the Edge
By Sameepa Shetty January 30, 2013
Pension plans remain a vital source of income for many retirees. Here’s how to stay current with the industry.
Photo: Paul Tillinghast
How to Cover Big Pharma
By Sameepa Shetty January 15, 2013
The industry is growing rapidly, but facing heavy scrutiny. Here’s what you need to know.
How to Cover Emerging Markets
By Julia Leite December 17, 2012
As capital has flowed into Brazil, China, India and Russia at a record pace, the demand for stories about these markets has climbed.
Photo: Robert S. Donovan
How to Write About Shocks to the Tourism Industry
By Newley Purnell December 12, 2012
Natural disasters can wreak havoc with regional economies in a variety of ways. Here’s how to report on the travel and leisure industries when catastrophe strikes.
Photo: Gui Seiz
Three Things Journalists Get Wrong About Taxes
By Bill Bischoff December 5, 2012
Here’s how to avoid some of the most common missteps when writing about taxes.
The Art of Covering the Deal: Writing About M&A
By Lewis Krauskopf December 1, 2012
Here are seven critical questions a reporter should ask when covering a merger or acquisition.
How to Get Holiday Retail Right
By Kelli B. Grant November 23, 2012
There is no shortage of sales data. Finding the most appropriate and accurate numbers can be tough.
How to Steer Readers Through Black Friday
By Kelli B. Grant November 22, 2012
Retail reporters must sort through a sea of ads to find deals worth passing on to readers. Here are a few guidelines for assessing a bargain.
Photo: Rob Stinnett
How to Write a Stock Column
By Jack Hough March 14, 2012
SmartMoney and Wall Street Journal columnist Jack Hough offers a few tips on how to write about equities.
