Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Kathleen A. Merrigan, back right and Jackalyne Pfannenstiel, far right, Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Installations and Environment, discuss renewable energy initiatives during a press conference at the officers club on Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, Tuesday, April 6, 2010. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Paul D. Honnick/Released)
The local business beat is more than shop openings and chamber of commerce meetings. Any kind of business — from organic agriculture to rock n’ roll — is interesting to readers & listeners & viewers.
The national business news agenda was once dominated by stock reports, interest rates and profiles of megalomaniac tycoons. These days, however, the agenda is expanding, with creative programs like Marketplace and web offerings like Bloomburg news. Topics include economics, technology, agriculture, medicine and even sports. Its also important to track government agencies (the State Corporation Commission in Virginia) and, on the federal level, the Dept. of Labor, the Dept. of Commerce, the FCC, the FTC and the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Reporters should know how to find:
- Incorporation records filed with state agencies
- Annual reports with profit & loss statements, and how to read them;
- Guidestar information about charities and Form 990s
There are lots of resources for journalists, but one of the best is the Reynolds Center for Business Journalism —
- Start here with their introduction to the business beat.
- Covering college sports business issues
- Also check out the recent article on covering Anti-Trust issues
- There’s lots of story ideas, such as how to cover the return of Drive In Movies
- Another story idea, which may be important here in the eastern US, involves problems with manufacturing and the lack of water in the west. See “Silicon Desert” at the Reynolds site.
Another resource is Scoop, which is a blog for business reporters with tips on access to SEC filings and other national business stories.