Tag Archives: American City Business Journals
Milwaukee biz journal names new health care reporter
by Chris Roush
Rich Kirchen, the Milwaukee Business Journal’s senior reporter, will be taking over the paper’s health care beat. He has previously covered banking and manufacturing.
A story on its website states, “Reporter Stacy Vogel Davis will assume the banking beat and continue covering the retail and travel industries.
“In addition, Wendy Strong has been appointed to the new position of multi-media reporter. Previously, Strong had been the paper’s broadcast reporter, appearing nightly on WITI-TV (Channel 6).
“Strong will cover small business and education, along with writing the weekly small business feature for the print edition. In addition, she will continue with one nightly newscast on Channel 6 and write daily for The Business Journal’s website.
“The Business Journal’s website has seen a 25 percent increase in page views in 2012 compared with 2011.”
Read more here.
San Jose biz journal looking for editor in chief
by Chris Roush
The Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal, an American City Business Journals paper, is looking to hire an editor in chief, but the current editor is not leaving the paper.
Moryt Milo, a veteran Silicon Valley journalist who became the editor of the paper in 2008, is moving into a new position as the print editor.
The new editor in chief will oversee print and online and be very focused on digital audience development.
The new San Jose position signals a shift in how ACBJ papers are being run on the editorial side as the Charlotte-based company looks to deliver news more online and through new technology. The company recently launched Chicago and New York news websites even though it doesn’t have print papers in those cities.
A similar move was made at the company’s Boston Business Journal last month as it hired a managing editor for print and promoted a a staffer to managing editor for online verticals.
Milo joined the Business Journal from the Silicon Valley Community Newspapers group, which publishes 10 community newspapers in the Valley, and is operated by MediaNews Group.
The new job description can be found here.
Business journalism and political coverage
by Chris Roush
Kent Hoover has been Washington bureau chief for American City Business Journals since 1999. Before that, he was editor of Washington Business Journal and Orlando Business Journal. He started with ACBJ in 1986 as special report editor for Atlanta Business Chronicle.
Before he joined ACBJ, Hoover worked for several daily newspapers around the South, starting at the Bristol Herald-Courier. He also worked for the late great Nashville Banner and the Marietta Daily Journal. Hoover briefly was editor of the Richlands News-Press, a weekly in the coalfields of Virginia.
Hoover is a native of Kingsport, Tenn., and graduated from Duke University in 1977, with a major in history. He lives in Arlington, Va., with his wife, Kate, and their cat, Pooky. He has two jukeboxes in his basement and hits yard sales and thrift stores looking for vinyl records whenever he has a chance.
Hoover took time out this week from covering the political conventions to answer some questions about covering the intersection between business and politics. What follows is an edited transcript.
How did you get interested in business journalism?
I wasn’t interested in it until I did it. I was a daily newspaper reporter/editor who wanted out of a bad journalistic marriage, and I saw at classified ad for Atlanta Business Chronicle. I’d never even seen the publication, but I decided to check it out.
How did you learn business journalism?
On the job. I can’t think of a better business journalism school than the Chronicle, especially during the late 1980s. I ended up being special report editor for five years, which forced me to learn about various industries, since I had to put out special sections on them every week. Commercial real estate was once a month — sometimes the sections were 48 pages or more. Fortunately, I grew to like that industry.
When did you start covering the intersection of business and political news?
As an editor at two business journals — Orlando and Washington – I always was interested in that intersection, and made sure we covered it, from a local business community perspective. Then when Sougata Mukherjee, who founded ACBJ’s Washington bureau, decided to move back to Raleigh in 1999, I decided that was the job I always wanted, and managed to get it.
What are the biggest hurdles in covering politics from a business perspective?
Keep the business perspective first. Whatever the issue is, cover it from what the stakes are for businesses, not what it means for Republicans or Democrats. Best way to do that is talk to business owners and executives about taxes, regulations, health insurance, access to capital, and whatever else is on their mind.
It’s also important to listen to business associations and trade groups — if they’re legitimate, they’re pursuing priorities that have bubbled up from their membership.
The other hurdle is finding politicians who actually know what they’re talking about when it comes to business.
What do you think of the increased attention being placed at other media organizations – such as Bloomberg Government – on such coverage?
The more coverage of business and politics the better. Competition is good.
You write for a company that has papers in 40 different markets spread across the country. How do you keep it interesting for all 40 markets?
I focus on news that would be important to business people no matter where they are: e.g. taxes, regulations, health care reform, access to capital. That way my coverage complements what each paper is doing to cover their own business communities.
Plus, I’m now writing for bizjournals.com web site first — that way, I’m able to break news when it happens instead of waiting for the print editions. Papers then are free to pick up whatever I want — I also compile a weekly Washington Briefs column for them of edited versions of my newsiest posts.
How do you decide what to cover for ACBJ?
My primary focus is on legislation and regulations that affect small business. I’m not interested in the “inside baseball” of Capitol Hill — e.g. process, political gamesmanship, bills that have no hope of being passed but are voted on just so one party can make a point. I’m interested in things that actually are in play, and could help or hurt small businesses.
Do you get requests from specific ACBJ papers for stories, and how do you handle those?
I rarely do stories for specific papers — there are too many of them!
How much do you interact with the specific ACBJ papers?
Editors and I do a fair amount of tip-sharing back and forth — plus I get good feedback from editors on what they think is valuable for them. That often depends on the editor — each of our papers is slightly different in their approach to the news, which makes sense since no two business communities in the U.S. are exactly the same.
A lot of regional papers have cut their DC bureaus back or eliminated them. What kind of opportunity does that give ACBJ with your coverage?
I think that gives ACBJ additional opportunities to become the source for business-related Washington news, even in markets where we don’t have papers. Business owners anywhere can keep up to speed on what’s going in Washington by going to www.bizjournals.com/bizjournals/washingtonbureau/ (had to get that plug in)
What advice would you give someone new to the beat of business and government?
Focus on business first — that will lead you to the government stories that matter to your readers. Get to know the folks who represent businesses in Washington, and talk to real-life business owners anytime you can. Tell their stories as you explain the details of legislation or a regulation.
Don’t run with the pack on Capitol Hill, chasing every incremental move or every statement by a congressional leader. And try not to get cynical — Congress is dysfunctional, but what it does or doesn’t do has a major impact on businesses.
Atlanta biz paper looking for new banking and finance reporter
by Chris Roush
The Atlanta Business Chronicle is now looking for its third banking and finance reporter in the past two years after Kat Greene abruptly left the business weekly at the end of last week after 15 months.
An editor at the paper confirmed that Greene was no longer at the paper, but declined to discuss the reasons why. Greene has not responded to a message from Talking Biz News.
The paper also has posted the position on JournalismJobs.com.
Greene’s hiring in June 2011, replacing Andy Peters, was noteworthy because she had publicly burned out on business journalism back in 2010, leaving a position at Dow Jones Newswires in New York and writing about it in a long, rambling post on Facebook. She had also worked at Institutional Investor and the Arizona Republic’s business news desk.
In 2010, Greene wrote, “For years, I’d wanted nothing more than to be a journalist in New York City. But now I was doing the one thing no one would have predicted, and I felt liberated. I was free from everyone’s expectations of me, from my own impossible goals, from the path I’d started down years ago.”
When she took the job at the Atlanta Business Chronicle, Greene told Talking Biz News, “While unemployed, I tried hard to break myself of the journalism habit, but I found that I couldn’t. I made myself the center of information and gossip, and when people I knew wanted to know about Osama bin Laden’s death or Bill Gross’ defiance of US Treasury notes or whether our friend Megan would have ranch dressing on the buffet table at her wedding, they knew I would know, or know how to find out fast.”
ACBJ’s coverage of NY and Chicago part of plan to serve national audience
by Chris Roush
On Friday, Talking Biz News posted an item about how American City Business Journals had hired a well-known Chicago business journalist to help it start covering business news in that market.
In addition, ACBJ will begin covering New York business news as well. The Charlotte-based owner of business newspapers has papers in 40 markets, but Chicago and New York’s business newspapers are owned by Crain’s.
We asked Emory Thomas, the chief content officer for ACBJ and the former editor of its Seattle paper, for an explanation about its strategy.
Thomas replied Saturday night with the following:
Our New York and Chicago coverage will appear on dropdowns off the bizjournals site, just like the rest of our business coverage in all our other cities. Not going to comment on specifics of staffing or coverage. Important to note, though, that our effort here is substantially about serving the existing national audience we have for ACBJ content on digital platforms.
Biz journal appears on San Jose mural
by Chris Roush
Lisa Sibley, social media and engagement manager of the Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal, notes that the weekly business newspaper is appearing on a prominent downtown mural.
Sibley writes, “The Silicon Valley Business Journal has been featured on a local mural at San Jose-based Falafel’s Drive In.
“The historic Middle Eastern restaurant, located at 2301 Stevens Creek Blvd., had the mural painted in the dining area. The mural features landmarks in San Jose, including City Hall and the Winchester Mystery House.
“The award-winning establishment was founded in 1966 by Anton and Zahie Nijmeh, according to its website. “
Read more here.
ACBJ to start coverage in Chicago
by Chris Roush
American City Business Journals is launching online coverage of Chicago business next week after recently hiring former Chicago Sun-Times columnist Lewis Lazare as a correspondent in the city.
“Charlotte, N.C.-based American City Business Journals is owned by privately held Advance Publications Inc., which is led by S.I. Newhouse Jr., and also owns magazine publisher Conde Nast.”
Nashville Biz Journal hires new reporter
by Chris Roush
Nashville Business Journal editor Lance Williams sent out the following announcement to the staff:
I’m happy to announce that we have hired Jamie McGee as our newest reporter.
Jamie, a Nashville native, will primarily cover the tourism and hospitality beat, which also includes music and entertainment, sports business and restaurants. She will also cover the technology industry.
Jamie’s most recent journalism experience was at Bloomberg, where she covered the insurance industry during the depths of the financial crisis. During her last year at Bloomberg, she was largely responsible for coverage of Berkshire Hathaway, which is the company owned by famed investor Warren Buffett.
Prior to that, Jamie was a reporter with The Post and Courier in Charleston, S.C., where she covered local government issues.
Jamie received her bachelor’s degree in journalism at the University of North Carolina, and her Master’s degree from Columbia University.
Biz weekly splits ME duties as it explores new products
by Chris Roush
Talking Biz News reported Saturday that the Boston Business Journal had hired Jon Chesto, the business editor of the Quincy Patriot Ledger, to be its managing editor for print.
The internal announcement from executive editor George Donnelly hints at a strategic shift within the newsroom:
We’re splitting the managing editor job in two, and I have exciting news about this new, and I think far more strategic, newsroom structure.
I’m delighted to announce that Jon Chesto, the business editor of the Patriot Ledger in Quincy, will join us as managing editor/print edition. Jon is a veteran business journalist. He was a business reporter for the Herald before joining the Patriot Ledger as its business editor eight years ago. Aside from editing the business section, he is an active reporter, blogger and tweeter. Jon’s primary responsibilities will be the print edition and working with reporters throughout the print cycle, but he will also contribute to all our platforms. Jon’s first day will be Aug. 27.
Craig Douglas will be promoted to a newly created role of managing editor/online vertical products and research. Some key BBJ strategies include expanding our industry-specific newsletters and also better exploiting our research franchise, especially online. Craig brings the experience and skills to lead us in both areas while also overseeing Focus and contributing to the web and print.
The goal is to give reporters more editing attention while also anticipating opportunities with new products. I believe this new structure better reflects the realities we face as our industry continues to evolve. Please join me in congratulating Craig while preparing a warm welcome for Jon, who’s a terrific guy and will be a great fit in the newsroom.
Massachusetts daily biz editor leaves for Boston biz weekly
by Chris Roush
Jon Chesto, the business editor of the Quincy Patriot Ledger for the past eight years, has left the paper to take a job at the Boston Business Journal.
He will become managing editor of print for the American City Business Journals paper.
Chesto writes, “For my first Mass. Market column in 2004, I predicted that the Legislature would turn that year’s sales tax holiday debut into an annual event. I wish I could say I was equally prescient for all of the nearly 400 columns I penned for the Ledger since that one. No one is that fortunate.
“But I have been lucky in other ways. Lucky to have such a talented team of coworkers here at the Ledger. Lucky to have such a wealth of topics to cover. Lucky to have such an interesting – and interested – group of readers who make all this key-pounding worthwhile.
“This, I’m sad to say, will be my last column in the weekend Ledger. I’m leaving a job that I’ve loved in a great region of a great state. I’ll still be covering the Boston area’s business scene. But it won’t be the same as this gig.
“We’ve been through a lot. Haven’t we? We’ve seen some rough times, what with the layoffs and the scams and the blatant government mismanagement.
