Happy about business journalists’ confidence

U.S. business journalists express confidence in journalism’s future

We got some great buzz on the release of our research into the confidence of U.S. business editors and reporters.

Almost two-thirds of business journalists report that the amount of business coverage at their organization has stayed the same or increased in the past five years, according to a new survey commissioned by the Donald W. Reynolds National Center for Business Journalism.

The results were far more optimistic than we anticipated. And they suggested that newsrooms, at least the business desks, are not as gloomy as journalists have been suggesting.

Romenesko on BizJ
Romenesko column

Among the findings:

• Six out of 10 are doing more or about the same level of investigative journalism.
• Nine out of 10 have learned new skills.
• Three-fourths say their workload has increased and they use social media.
• About half blog, file first for the Web and cover more beats.

asu logo asu news Business journalists optimistic about journalism’s future

Fishbowl NY Survey: Business Journalists Are .. Optimistic?

It was a lot of fun to put together this package. The report, five quick questions answered by Reynolds President Andrew Leckey, a slideshow of the Q&As, and an analysis from journalism professor Tim McGuire.

Take a look. Enjoy.

PRNewswire:  U.S. Business Journalists Express Confidence in Journalism’s Future

Covering the Green Economy

Cronkite school announces two programs

By Victoria Pelham, The Downtown Devil, March 3, 2010

….   Robin Phillips, Web managing editor for the Reynolds Center, said the seminar will provide journalists with tools to understand issues in Covering the Green Economycovering business environmentalism, track money being used for environmental pursuits, learn about green legislation and recognize “greenwashing,” which is when companies promote themselves as “green” companies to a higher degree than their actual practice of environmentalism.

“We’ll attract some attention because nobody else is doing something quite like this,” she said. “Also, ASU is recognized as a leader … in green economy and sustainability, so it kind of reinforces what ASU stands for overall.” …

Twitter’s advanced search can be a journalist’s good friend

I wrote this guide to Twitter’s advanced search for BusinessJournalism.org, my day job.

Twitter advanced searchJournalists can’t avoid hearing about the benefits of using Twitter and other social media tools … whether they believe them or not.

Well, the advanced search tool on Twitter may just help make believers of journalists hoping to find local sources for stories.

Full post.

Covering Ricardo Salinas Pliego for BusinessJournalism.org

Mexican retail magnate urges open borders, business partnerships

“Mexicans and Americans are neighbors. That’s the way it is. Fate put us here. Instead of building fences we should be building bridges.”

Ricardo Salinas Pliego

Ricardo Salinas Pliego speaks to members of SABEW

That sums up the sentiments in an hourlong talk by Ricardo Salinas Pliego, Mexican businessmen and one of Forbes World’s Richest People who serves as president and CEO of Grupo Salinas.

The Mexican retail magnate challenged business editors and reporters at his Friday afternoon talk at SABEW to help challenge the U.S. audience to rethink the relationship between the two countries.

Full story

The birth of #wjchat

#wjchat Kate WinsletRobert Hernandez wrote a nice post about the birth of #wjchat, a Twitter-based chat for Web journalists.

We’re three weeks in .. I’ve found being involved with this group of young, energetic Web journalists fun, invigorating and a little bit exhausting.

Robert is a cool dude. He’s Professor at USC Annenberg. Worked at seattletimes.com, SFGate.com, eXaminer.com. If you read closely, you’ll see that he has a little Web journo harem going here.

He tells our story well: DIY and passion give birth to #wjchat

And as I told Robert ( @WebJournalist ), I want Kate Winslet to play me in the movie.

Journalists must jump into social media: NENPA interview

Journalists are figuring out how to use social media to find and promote their stories. Editors and publishers are also seeing the value of social networking to boost viewership online.
Robin J. Phillips on ways journalists are using social media.

New site launched. Now the fun begins

I moved to the Reynolds Center for Business Journalism in August. My first major project has been to redesign the center’s Web site.  We launched this week and I love it.

The goal of the center is to help business journalists  and journalists who cover stories with business angles to do their jobs better. The site is designed to help us make the Reynolds Center newsy, educational and a place for business journalists to gather.

Stop by.

Tell me what you think.

Happy to take Obama personally

Why I’m taking President Obama’s gay speech personally.

The President’s speech, which was as strong as any of his best during the Presidential campaign, moved me to tears.

Hello world!

I’m Robin Phillips, in case you couldn’t tell, an online journalist with experience at newspapers, magazines, as a freelancer and even a little time at a wire service.

Check out my About page for more details on my life and times.  I love online networks and manage several blogs.

At this blog, I plan to maintain resume information and share details about what I am learning and doing and exploring at work.

I will also use this blog to explore ways to use WordPress. Shoot me notes if you see cool things I should try out. Or if you think of things I that might work well on my work site: BusinessJournalism.org.

Over there on the right you’ll find posts from other blogs I write .. on journalism, things I call Perfect Moments and my Twitter feed.