Note: This blog post also ran in the Society of Professional Journalism’s “Journalism and the World” blog. Click here to see the original post. Being out here in China, where there’s a huge shortage of experienced English-speaking business reporters, I frequently have to hire staff with no reporting experience at all and train them up […]
How to get people to talk to you on the telephone Read More »
Note: This blog post also ran in the Society of Professional Journalism’s “Journalism and the World” blog. Click here to see the original post. This is going to be a bit of a technical post, for those setting up a relational database for their own freelance writing workflow, or hiring someone to do it for
Setting up a database (warning: technical details inside) Read More »
Note: This blog post also ran in the Society of Professional Journalism’s “Journalism and the World” blog. Click here to see the original post. I’m writing an article this week about Saxo Bank opening a brokerage service in Second Life, an online three-dimensional virtual reality. Everyday, the place is turning into an ever more functional
I wish I had (a) Second Life Read More »
Note: This blog post also ran in the Society of Professional Journalism’s “Journalism and the World” blog. Click here to see the original post. You can’t spit in the street in Shanghai these days without hitting a venture capitalist trying to give out money. The economy is growing so far, and there are so many
Venture capitalists prowl Shanghai with sacks of cash Read More »
Note: This blog post also ran in the Society of Professional Journalism’s “Journalism and the World” blog. Click here to see the original post (and comments). Nobody becomes a print journalist to make money. Even the world’s most talented writers probably make more money from the movie rights to their articles and books, or from
It’s not about the money. Yes it is. Read More »
Note: This blog post also ran in the Society of Professional Journalism’s “Journalism and the World” blog. Click here to see the original post. The initial inspiration for me to become a war correspondent was to be like Hemingway. I wanted to drink, smoke, and write novels. I tried doing some of this while in
Why I’m not Hemingway Read More »
Note: This blog post also ran in the Society of Professional Journalism’s “Journalism and the World” blog. Click here to see the original post. Tomorrow night, Shanghai journalists will be continuing a long-standing tradition of foreign correspondents everywhere: they will go out to a bar and drink. It’s a regular Thursday night event for us
Drinking the night away in Tsinghua beer ville Read More »
Note: This blog post also ran in the Society of Professional Journalism’s “Journalism and the World” blog. Click here to see the original post. Last week, Scott Adams posted an eye-opening piece in his Dilbert Blog, “Today I Will Improve Your Sex Life.” (My sex life hasn’t improved — it’s as bad as when I
Sex and Sales in Shanghai Read More »
Note: This blog post also ran in the Society of Professional Journalism’s “Journalism and the World” blog. Click here to see the original post. From reading my post yesterday, I guess some people got the idea that it’s all bad news for journos looking for overseas assignments. (Yes, I mean you, Fons — http://www.chinaherald.net/2007/03/how-to-become-foreign-correspondent.html.) That
It’s not all bad news Read More »
Note: This blog post also ran in the Society of Professional Journalism’s “Journalism and the World” blog. Click here to see the original post. Robert Near is trying to break into journalism in Shanghai. In a recent posting, he writes that my account of the difficulties of getting started resonates with him. He teaches English,
Down and out and about in Shanghai Read More »
Note: This blog post also ran in the Society of Professional Journalism’s “Journalism and the World” blog. Click here to see the original post (and comments). Dan Kubiske, chair of the SPJ’s International Journalism Committee, suggested that I blog about my experiences running a bureau out here in Shanghai, so this is it. Some background
Greetings from Shanghai, China Read More »
Most countries — including China — require that journalists be accredited, and carry a press ID. This is not the case in the United States, where our Constitution guarantees press freedom from government interference. In the US, all a journalist needs is a business card or a company photo ID. For most of the reporting
Getting accredited — do you really need it? Read More »
A beginning journalist asked: It looks like you have a lot of varied experience in journalism. I’m dabbling with becoming a business reporter, but also love narrative writing: i.e. Rick Bragg, Tom French, Tom Hallman. Do you have any advice on the pros and cons of covering business than say education or government reporting? First
Choosing a beat: business, education, or government? Read More »
My rule of thumb is you’re as good a writer as your last clip. So find an editor, any editor, and start pitching business stories. If you’re really starting out, and don’t have *any* clips at all, go after the Pennysavers and the like — do some profiles of local businesses. The pay is pennies
How to get into business writing Read More »
