By WARREN WATSON
NEW YORK–SABEW set attendance records for its annual fall conference, which was held Oct. 3-4 at the City University of New York Graduate School of Journalism.
A total of 257 journalists registered for the two-day program. It was the best turnout in the four years since SABEW revived a fall training event in 2010, anchoring it in the heart of its membership base of financial journalists.
“It is our most successful fall event ever,” said Kevin Shinkle, the conference co-chair who serves as acting business editor of The Associated Press. “The challenge of any conference is catering to the many constituencies SABEW serves.”
The program featured newsmakers, government officials, panel discussions and education and skills programs for journalists at all levels.
A highlight was a discussion on the future of journalism moderated by Paul Steiger of Pro-Publica. The discussion featured Matt Winkler, Bloomberg News; Mark Hoffman, CNBC, Mark Thompson, The New York Times; and Kathleen Carroll, The Associated Press.
Hoffman mentioned that media outlets are still focused on technical and delivery issues. He sees a day when that will change: “I’m hoping content will be king again,” Hoffman said.
Two major CEOs – Richard Anderson of Delta Air Lines and Terry Lundgren – addressed the gathering of business journalists from all across the country and Canada.
Two journalists were formally recognized during the program. Author Michael Lewis was selected as SABEW’s annual distinguished achievement award winner. He will receive the award at SABEW’s annual spring conference in Phoenix in March. Steve Shepard, retiring dean at CUNY, was given the SABEW President’s Award for his work in business journalism.
Seventy-six college journalists attended. Schools represented included CUNY, Baruch College, Arizona State University, University of Missouri and New York University.
Program organizers were Shinkle and Greg David, who heads business and economics programs at CUNY.
SPONSORS: Conference sponsors were: Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, The Associated Press, CNBC, T. Rowe Price, Bureau of Economic Analysis, Newsday, Los Angeles Times, B2BCFO, McClatchy, University of Toronto Rotman School of Management, IESE Business School, and the National Endowment for Financial Education.
(Warren Watson, a former reporter, editor and executive at multiple publications, has been executive director of SABEW since September 2009. SABEW’s next national conference will be in Phoenix March 27-29.)
