Articles by Kevin Sweeney
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Kevin Sweeney Managing Editor, BusinessJournalism.org |
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Enron Trial Offers Plethora of Coverage Angles
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
Constant news flowing out of the trial of former Enron executives Ken Lay and Jeff Skilling has kept business reporters on high alert.
Survey Highlights Ethical Concerns in the NewsroomMonday, January 23, 2006
A recent survey by the American Society of Business Publication Editors raised some serious questions about the ethical standards in the business-to-business publishing field.
The Plain Dealer Business Section Handles Series With CareThursday, January 12, 2006
To get a further understanding of the approach and thinking behind a series, Managing Editor Kevin Sweeney spoke with John Kroll, deputy business editor of The Plain Dealer in Cleveland.
Reporters Tackle Many Questions with Independence Air ClosureFriday, January 06, 2006
The move by Independence Air to officially shut its gates Thursday opened up many questions from employees and customers, as well as the airline industry as a whole.
Oil Fluctuations Keep Business Journalists On Their ToesWednesday, December 28, 2005
Financial futures and business journalists are rolling with the punches with respect to oil prices as the winter months settle in across the United States.
Katrina Re-Prioritizes Coverage for The Times-PicayuneThursday, December 15, 2005
To learn how The Times-Picayune in New Orleans has approached reporting on the monumental task of Hurricane Katrina, Managing Editor Kevin Sweeney spoke with Money Editor Kim Quillen.
Reporters Focus on Community Implications from Merck CutsThursday, December 01, 2005
Merck's move to cut 7,000 jobs and close five plants this week presented several business sections with harsh realities for their local communities.
Reporters Consider History and Hype Surrounding Google Share Price RecordTuesday, November 22, 2005
While some analysts are already predicting a run by Google to $500/share, business reporters are keeping the hype in perspective.
Shareholder Pressure Puts Spotlight on Knight Ridder ReportersThursday, November 10, 2005
Reporters for several daily papers owned by the communications giant stressed the need to put personal issues aside and tackle the story just like any other.
Reporters Cover Merck Victory With CautionFriday, November 04, 2005
Merck may have scored a victory in its second Vioxx trial this week. But business reporters kept the game in check for readers across the country.
Delphi Bankruptcy Spins Off Many Business-Related StoriesThursday, October 13, 2005
Major automakers across Detroit hit the brakes this week when the top U.S. auto supplier filed for Chapter 11. But even beyond the Motor City, business reporters from Indianapolis to Buffalo are putting this move into context for local readers.
Lessons Stress Need for Skepticism in Drug CoverageThursday, September 29, 2005
Rather than healthy speculation, temperate glorification seems to be the theme of how a majority of reporters covered blockbuster drugs recently linked to serious health concerns.
Business Editors Consider Wall Street Journal Weekend ImpactFriday, September 16, 2005
With The Wall Street Journal expanding to a Saturday edition this weekend, other business editors debated the impact the expansion would have on their own products.
Reporters Undertake Financial Implications of Hurricane KatrinaThursday, September 01, 2005
Business reporters are working around the clock to meet the challenge of reporting on the economic implications of unprecedented devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina.
Surging Gas Prices Fuel Need for Unique Reporting AnglesWednesday, August 17, 2005
With gas prices hitting new highs seemingly everyday, business reporters are challenged to find a unique angle to a repetitive story.
Ovitz Case Highlights Need for Greater Board OversightFriday, August 12, 2005
Scrutiny over who serves on boards of directors and how they arrive at compensation package decisions is hard to come by in the business press.
Business Focus of Union Split Centers around WorkersTuesday, August 02, 2005
Perhaps more than any other business story, labor issues can be summed up in one resonating common theme – the effect they have on people.
Big Three Discounts Provide Unique Coverage OpportunitiesFriday, July 08, 2005
A move by domestic auto giants to offer employee pricing provides a myriad of coverage angles for the business press.
Kozlowski Conviction Sends Clear MessageMonday, June 20, 2005
The conviction of former Tyco CEO Dennis Kozlowski has sent a resounding message to corporate executives across the country. This message has not been lost on business reporters.
Strike a Balance in Your Approach to InterviewsMonday, June 06, 2005
While that phone sitting on your desk appears harmless, voices at the other end of the line can be intimidating. Corporate-speak from a savvy company executive is a common experience for any reporter.
Merger Brings Airline Consolidation Issue to ForefrontFriday, May 20, 2005
Rumor turned to realization late Thursday as a $1.5 billion deal between US Airways and America West finally took off. But speculation about the fate of the airline business remained largely grounded.
General Motors Endures Cheers and Jeers in Short SpanTuesday, May 10, 2005
General Motors both hit full speed and came to a screeching halt all in the span of a week.
NYSE Merger Plans Hit ResistanceThursday, April 28, 2005
Following news of NYSE's merger plans with Archipelago Holdings to emphasize electronic trading, business journalists reported on some powerful resistance to the proposal.
Delay Tactics Raise Eyebrows of Business JournalistsWednesday, April 13, 2005
If you’re noticing that delay tactics of the companies you cover are becoming a common theme, you are not alone.
Companies CEOs Leave Behind Hold IntrigueWednesday, April 06, 2005
Instead of asking the obvious question about possible successors when a CEO leaves a company, think outside the box.
Economic Impact of Final Four Requires DiligenceMonday, March 28, 2005
It's easy to chronicle the ‘Madness' that the NCAA basketball tournament breeds among legions of fans late March each year. How that translates into the business world is not so clear.
Business Reporters Focus on CEO TurnoverWednesday, March 16, 2005
“Musical chairs” seems to be the game of choice for many of the nation's top CEOs.
Reinvention Angle Crucial on the Airline BeatTuesday, March 15, 2005
When it comes to the airline story, reinvention is the ultimate form of reporting.
Stewart Release Stirs Business PressFriday, March 04, 2005
Once you get past writing the lead about Martha Stewart's probation-tainted freedom, there is some real business to report.
Corporate Scandals Lead Business Reporters to CourtroomsFriday, February 25, 2005
Corporate scandal trials have led many business reporters to abandon their local newsrooms for courtrooms thousands of miles away.
Ameriquest Allegations Lead to Solid Investigative WorkMonday, February 21, 2005
The sub-prime mortgage market may not appear to be the most desirable industry to cover on the business desk. In Ameriquest's case, appearances are definitely deceiving.
Business Reporters Face-Off with Hockey Season CancellationFriday, February 18, 2005
For National Hockey League players, owners and fans, the puck stops here. But for business journalists, the game goes on.
Fiorina Resignation Brings Board of Directors into FocusFriday, February 11, 2005
The exit of one of America’s leading female executives has highlighted the divide that can exist between company leadership and boards.
Coverage Issues Arise from Social Security PlanThursday, February 03, 2005
Headlines of President Bush's plan to restructure Social Security carry more than just words – they translate into important coverage issues for business reporters.
Trading Hours Change Could Affect ReportersFriday, January 28, 2005
A change in trading hours could increase the hours spent by journalists in the newsroom to track breaking news.
Challenge Big Numbers Pushed by Major EventsWednesday, January 26, 2005
Take financial numbers associated with major events at more than face value, and you may just save face when it counts.
Business Acumen Crucial to Reporting on the Sports BeatMonday, December 06, 2004
Business skills are critical to getting the story right when it comes to all sports finances, whether they be on the professional, minor or collegiate level.
Technology and Research Critical on the Pharmaceutical BeatFriday, November 19, 2004
The pharmaceutical industry has evolved in recent years into one of the most crucial beats on the business desk.
Prepare for the Financial Planner InterviewThursday, October 28, 2004
Business reporters often turn to financial planners for insight and perspective on personal finance. But that doesn't necessarily mean they always ask the right questions.
Airline Industry Presents Unique Dynamics for Business ReportersMonday, October 04, 2004
Struggles of U.S. airlines have flooded the pages of the nation’s business sections in recent months. The closure of hubs, labor concessions, bankruptcies and shareholder concerns are some of the latest developments affecting the industry.
Publications Provide Solid Template for Business of Sports CoverageThursday, September 30, 2004
The theory that there is a business angle to every story is an understatement when it comes to money and sports.
Business Editors Encouraged to Speak the Language of Average ReadersWednesday, September 22, 2004
A unique opportunity to stand out in the business journalism market place was presented at this week’s annual American Press Institute Business Editors Seminar.
Have a Game Plan in Place for Hurricane CoverageFriday, September 10, 2004
The aftermath of Hurricanes Charley and Frances and the anxious anticipation of Hurricane Ivan have given business journalists across the state of Florida – and the country, for that matter – plenty of economic coverage angles to consider.
Consider Economic and Pocketbook Issues in Election-Related CoverageFriday, August 13, 2004
When it comes to a presidential election season, economics and politics go hand in hand. Policies on major financial issues offer substantial fodder for business sections in comparing and contrasting the two major candidates.
Stay a Step Ahead of Corporate Executive SpinTuesday, July 27, 2004
Controlling the spin of a savvy corporate executive is a much finer art these days.
Reporters Rush to Make Sense of Stewart SentencingFriday, July 16, 2004
After Martha Stewart was sentenced to five months in prison, business journalists tried to put into perspective the latest chapter in the saga of the so-called Domestic diva.
Reporters Consider Implications of Lay IndictmentThursday, July 08, 2004
The unsealing of the indictment served to Kenneth Lay is reverberating through the business journalism world as reporters consider the implications of the charges levied against the former Enron chairman
The Job of Reporting About Wal-MartThursday, June 24, 2004
Reporters covering the Wal-Mart discrimination story have already seen the company begin to take internal action.
Accuracy Trumps Timeliness in Online Business JournalismTuesday, May 11, 2004
The benefits of online journalism come in the form of timeliness and interactivity for viewers and subscribers. But be sure to exhaust appropriate editorial channels as you would in a print publication.
Crafting the Local Angle to a National Business StoryFriday, April 16, 2004
The current prominence of business coverage has been largely driven by high-profile stories covered by publications in major-market cities. For the rest of the country, the challenge lies in offering readers an angle at the local level.
Dig Deep to Get the Real Deal on RetirementFriday, February 27, 2004
Corporate scandals have raised the bar for journalistic coverage of organizational administration of 401(k) and similar retirement plan vehicles.
Reynolds Center holds inaugural business journalism workshopsSunday, November 23, 2003
Journalists interested in covering business converged on Harrisburg, Pa., Minneapolis, and San Jose, Calif., in November to participate in first-of-their-kind workshops geared to meeting the growing challenges of financial journalism.