NBCU Academy 101
Are you intimidated by talking about finance? Stephanie Ruhle, host of MSNBC’s “11th Hour” and senior business analyst for NBC News, breaks down what you need to know to be a successful finance and business reporter. Watch the video above or read the edited transcript below.
How to be an effective business reporter
Think about business and finance news as “money” news. And everyone cares about money, whether it’s working on a budget, saving for a car or investing for retirement. You don’t need a degree in finance or economics, but you do have to know the content well.
Know your audience
Who’s watching? What do they need? If you’re talking to an audience that is market-savvy or made up of professional or personal investors, they are more likely to be accustomed to the language of business, finance and economics. If you’re talking to a more general audience, they may be intimidated by the jargon and will tune you out. Engage with your audience in a way that will hold their interest.
Tips for business writing
- Make it simple: You don’t need to include every fact and figure that you learned during your research. Be conscious about what you need and use accessible language to explain concepts.
- Be patient: Sometimes there’s pressure to get a story out quickly or focus on gossip or clickbait. It’s more important to work to get a business story right than to do it fast but with errors.
- Be practical: People care about what affects them financially. If the subject matter is complicated, break it down so the audience can understand and relate to it. Think of how a friend or a relative could become interested in the story and understand their finances better.
