Webinars for Business Journalists
The following are recorded webinars for business journalists. Our education committee has also created "how we did it" podcasts for journalism educators to use in journalism classrooms. Check them out.
2025
Covering Retail: What a $1 trillion holiday shopping season says about consumer spending
The National Retail Federation predicts we’ll see the first $1 trillion holiday shopping season this year. That eye-popping number, as well as a dearth of economic statistics during the U.S. government shutdown, may be masking some weakness and caution among consumers this year. There’s been a lot of talk about a K-shaped economy and speculation about what a potentially weakening labor market could be doing for consumer confidence. This panel will dig into what that means, and how it could be shaping consumer spending patterns and the economy in the final days until Christmas and into 2026.
We’ll also look at the key trends and data points to keep an eye on this holiday season when covering consumers and retailers. And ask how tariffs have impacted prices and availability. The panelists will also explore the strategies retailers have deployed to capture as much of the holiday budget as possible.
Figuring out Freelancing
Freelancing offers flexibility, independence and the chance to shape your own career and create amazing stories. But it also comes with challenges, like unpredictable income, chasing invoices, shifting expectations and constant pitching and cold-emailing for that next assignment.
Join SABEW Canada’s virtual workshop, featuring freelance business journalists Kelsey Rolfe and Luc Rinaldi, to hear them share candid insights with moderator Renée Sylvestre-Williams. We’ll be discussing what it takes to build a sustainable freelance career, manage your business, and keep doing the work you love in a changing media landscape.
Best in Business Awards: How they won
Join us for an insightful panel featuring the reporters behind some of SABEW’s 2024 Best in Business (BIB) award-winning stories, as they take us on a journey through their journalistic process. Whether you’re planning to enter your work into the Best in Business Awards this year or your goal is to produce some award-winning work in the future, you’ll benefit from hearing from some of last year’s BIB winners.
SABEW Medical device webinar
Smartwatches track our hearts. CPAP machines keep us breathing. Continuous glucose monitors are lifelines for millions. Medical devices touch nearly every life. But when they fail—or when regulation lags—patients bear the consequences. The US medical device industry is globally dominant, with $200–230 billion in sales annually, and we export about $50 billion.
This one-hour conversation focuses on the question: Who’s watching the devices, and why should we care?
This webinar is in partnership with The National Institute for Health Care Management (NIHCM) Foundation.
Your money’s in there somewhere: Uncovering the personal finance angle in every headline
Some stories scream “personal finance.” Others whisper it—if you just know how to listen.
Join us for a lively conversation on how to uncover the personal finance angles lurking in everyday news, and breaking developments. Whether you’re covering consumer behavior, policy shifts, economic data or cultural trends, this session will show you how to ask better questions, surface real voices and unearth the high-impact money angle hidden in the moment.
What you’ll learn:
- How to tease out the personal finance story in big news—whether it’s legislation, a Fed decision, or breaking developments
- What editors look for when deciding if a story works for a personal finance audience
Navigating Burnout: A Journalist’s Guide to Staying Fresh in a Fast-Paced World
We’ve all been there: eagerly anticipating our coveted summer vacation away from the newsroom, only to realize that exhaustion quickly creeps back in after we’ve returned to our desk. Lately, you might even be finding that it’s hard to stay completely unplugged or that your energy is depleting faster than before, courtesy of the unrelenting pace of the news cycle. The public relies on us to keep them informed, but technology and social media has made keeping up with the news cycle a round-the-clock job. Newsrooms in recent years have made strides in acknowledging reporter burnout, but equipping teams with practical strategies to combat it lags behind.
How does one stay energized amid the constant barrage of news? Join our moderator and panel for a discussion on recognizing burnout, navigating the demands of a fast-paced newsroom and implementing necessary changes to stave off exhaustion — before it happens.
How private equity is transforming health care in America
As physicians’ practices continue to be acquired by private equity firms, as well as by private and nonprofit health systems, the practice of medicine is changing: These ownership shifts often reduce physicians’ autonomy, restrict patient access and increase health care costs, raising concerns not just about quality, but also about the financial impact on individuals, employers and taxpayers. This webinar will look at the trends and the tradeoffs.
This webinar is sponsored by The Commonwealth Fund.
Harnessing AI: How journalists can reap the benefits – and avoid the pitfalls – of emerging AI tools
Chances are you’re already experimenting with AI tools in your reporting, but maybe you want to take it to the next level. Or maybe you don’t know where to begin. Generative AI tools are changing quickly, and it can be hard for busy journalists to keep up. This panel will share some practical examples of how to incorporate AI tools into your day-to-day workflow. When used correctly, AI can help business journalists do their jobs more efficiently. The panel will also cover best practices to avoid AI hallucinations and other pitfalls, and how to ensure accountability to readers.
Inflation and tariffs, uncover the impact with data
Inflation is impacting everyone- top that with tariffs and threats of a trade war(s)- what does that mean for individuals and businesses? Are businesses eating the costs or are they getting passed down to the consumer? The answer is in the data. Through Bright Data’s journalism program, we’ll look at what costs more today and when those prices jumped.
Recession Watch: Making sense of an economy sending mixed messages
President Donald Trump’s rapidly changing tariff policies have sparked volatility in financial markets, lifted inflation expectations and raised recession fears. At the same time, an aggressive crackdown on immigration threatens to shrink the workforce and slow tourism. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, who has signaled rates are likely to remain elevated for the time being, has faced renewed attacks from Trump – a development further rattling investors. Yet, much of the recent data points to a solid economy. We speak with journalists and experts about what they watch to help guide their story ideas–and to help them determine if the economy is healthy or on the brink of collapse.
Going from the beat to a book
Every journalist may have a book in them, but for most that’s where it will stay. From finding the right angle to securing a book deal, the journey to elevate a story from the newsroom to the bookshelf can be daunting. In this session, seasoned journalists who have successfully transformed their beats into published books will share their insights, strategies and lessons learned.
Mining court dockets to investigate big business
Every good cops or courts reporter knows how lawsuits work, but far too many business reporters never learn how to properly read a legal docket to uncover the immense treasure buried within. This session will discuss how to approach a court docket from an investigative perspective: what kinds of motions generally yield the best documents, the ins and outs of discovery and protective orders, how to read the posture of a civil case and use it to get sources talking, and more.
2024
From tinsel to tariffs: How to cover the biggest issues facing the retail industry
This holiday season may feel a bit busier on the retail beat. With holiday promotions shifting earlier on the calendar, it already looks like the competition for consumer dollars is fierce. Meanwhile, preparations are already underway to brace for potential policy changes ahead. What will the Trump administration’s proposed tariffs mean for retailers in 2025? Our moderator and panelists will discuss where to find retail data and what topics you should be watching for the rest of the holiday season and into next year.
Now What?! Journalists talk post-election coverage plans
This panel will cover how newsrooms and journalists are planning for the aftermath of the 2024 elections. Our panelists will cover the key questions our newsrooms plan to address in the weeks ahead. We’ll look at how the Trump administration and Republican-controlled Congress may shape economic and business coverage, especially around key topics like tariffs, taxes, and regulatory changes.
How to navigate the modern social media space
While the dominant platforms have changed, journalists continue to see social media as critical in shaping personal brands, expanding reach and showcasing work to new audiences. Mastering these tools, however, has proven to be a formidable challenge. In the midst of ever-changing algorithms, fleeting platforms that fall just as quickly as they rise and unpredictable ownership changes, newsrooms are finding themselves in a constant state of trial and error. Already constrained by limited time and resources, reporters and editors have little room to craft an effective social strategy. And on a timeline saturated with entertainers and influencers, how can journalists successfully engage an audience when their primary goal is to inform?
Is the Federal Reserve behind the curve?
Reporters tasked with covering the US central bank will chat about the main questions policymakers are facing as they prepare to cut, how they sort through economic data to find story ideas and how they interpret “Fed speak” to recognize when officials are sending signals on future policy.
Still Work to Do: Elevating Diversity in Journalism
This panel delves into the critical efforts and strategies newsrooms are employing to enhance diversity on their business desks and beyond. Industry leaders and journalists will share insights and their approaches to creating more inclusive and representative media environments.
How to Write Great Business Columns
Writing a column can be a tricky task for someone who has worked in journalism for years. A good column will have a strong voice and speak with authority. It may offer personal observations — something many reporters may not be accustomed to doing. It’s not news, but it needs to be relevant and timely. It will often offer advice or establish a viewpoint.
Covering the Auto Industry amid the EV Transition
For the auto industry, the future is looking … electric. But are the world’s biggest car companies — and drivers themselves — prepared? Americans can now choose from more than 100 different EV models on the market, helping to supercharge their interest in ditching traditional gas-powered vehicles. EV sales in 2023 jumped 53% from the prior year, according to trade group Alliance for Automotive Innovation.
Covering a troubled corporation: How to learn from reporters covering Boeing for your beat.
A terrifying — and miraculously non-fatal — midair door plug blowout. Disturbing allegations from a corporate whistleblower. Major quality control issues, and a fast-approaching deadline to come up with a new safety program. Aviation aficionados thought Boeing Co.’s reputation couldn’t nosedive any lower after the two catastrophic crashes and subsequent worldwide grounding in 2019 of the 737 Max 8. Yet, the start of 2024 has proven even more turbulent for the country’s largest airplane manufacturer, as well as the airline companies that fly its latest 737 Max model.
After the Fallout: SVB's collapse a year later
A year ago, on the second Friday of March, Silicon Valley Bank’s failure grabbed headlines and had people talking about the banking system like they did during the Great Recession.
Our moderator and panel will look at the banking system in 2024 and ask: What has changed since last year and what remains the same? Will there be any large bank failures in 2024? And what lessons can we learn from our coverage of the fallout?
Following the Money: Great Business Stories in an Election Year.
The economy promises to loom large in the 2024 elections, meaning there will be no shortage of coverage opportunities on the business desk. SABEW’s next virtual training session will examine some of the big election themes that are developing as well as the role of money and influence in politics.
We’ll talk about political finance, and how you can mine stories from data and trends. This session will also give you ideas about business stories you can develop in your own market that are tied to the election.
Best in Business Awards: How they won
Join us for an insightful panel featuring the reporters behind three of SABEW’s 2022 Best In Business (BIB) award-winning stories, as they take us on a journey through their journalistic process. Delve into the intricacies of their investigations, discover how they uncovered compelling sources and stories and learn about the strategic decisions that shaped their award-winning pieces.
2023
How to improve your reporting by cultivating diverse sources
It’s long been a tenet of journalism that reporters are only as good as their sources. For that reason, many diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in newsrooms have focused on making sure that reporters are tapping a wide array of voices for their stories. The thought is: If news organizations lack diverse sourcing, it can help reinforce stereotypes, stoke distrust of media and fuel inequities in our society. That means journalists should be sourcing their daily reporting from members of various identities, races, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, abilities and socioeconomic backgrounds.
SABEW Canada: Chasing big stories
Award-winning journalists Natalie Obiko Pearson of Bloomberg and Alexandra Posadzki of the Globe and Mail will share their journeys reporting impactful stories that took dogged investigative reporting to bring to light. Whether it’s Natalie’s stories on racism at international schools and the waste produced by fast fashion, or Alexandra’s reporting on the feud at Rogers that turned into a soon-to-be-released book, learn from these industry-leading journalists as they reveal what it takes to parlay a scoop into a big story.
Covering Retail – How Are Consumers’ Spending Habits Changing in 2023
Consumer spending has remained relatively strong in the face of above average inflation and interest rate increases from the Federal Reserve. A tight labor market and rising wages have helped. However, the fourth quarter may include additional hurdles for consumers including the end of student loan forbearance, geopolitical turmoil resulting in higher gasoline costs and uncertainty going forward. What are the key trends and data points to keep an eye on this holiday season when covering consumers and retailers?
How college students can set up their first budget
Whether you’re “good” at money or “into” money, everyone needs it – and everyone needs to learn how to manage it so you have enough now – and for everything you want to do in life after this. So we’ve lined up an all-star panel to help you learn how to set up your first budget, plus tips for how to save money – and stick to your budget.
Using Social Media as an Effective Audience Building Tool
Clearly social media isn’t going away, but it does seem to be getting more complex to navigate. With limited time to dedicate to these platforms, what strategies should journalists use?
How to Move Up the Ladder in Your Career
Landing your first job is thrilling. But getting your foot in the door at a media company is just the beginning. What you do when you get there will decide where your career goes and how quickly you climb the ladder. And for that, you need a strategy.
How to Negotiate Your First Salary
First of a three-part series organized by SABEW’s education committee. This is a webinar for college students and early career journalists on how to negotiate your first salary. Why is negotiating important? Because what you get for that first salary sets the foundation for every other job – and salary – you get after that. Your financial future depends on it!
Covering the Jobs Report
What’s happening in the job market? Even the experts don’t have a clear answer. Headlines of layoffs in big tech and finance are continuing to dominate the news cycle, but job growth is still booming, and unemployment is among levels not seen for half a century. The slowdown many workers have been told to expect hasn’t yet arrived.
Covering the Business of Travel
There might be fewer flights this summer and the airline pilot and labor shortage could play a factor in travel this summer – the first summer since 2019 that the U.S. isn’t under a national emergency for COVID-19.
Covering Silicon Valley and Tech Business
Reporters covering high-tech businesses face the challenge of figuring out what’s a breakthrough and what’s overhyped, unrealistic, and potentially fraudulent. This is especially important In the wake of the crash-and-burn stories of Silicon Valley Bank, Elizabeth Holmes at Theranos and Sam Bankman-Fried at FTX. This SABEW panel discussion will offer expert advice from leading practitioners. The session will be hosted by college students in the business journalism class at the University of Nevada, Reno.
Covering the Fed – A year into rate increases
Join us as we look back on what the Fed has done to try to control inflation and what to expect for the rest of 2023. Our panel of respected journalists will talk about how they cover the nation's Central Bank and what else you should be reading/looking at. Also, the panel will discuss how recent bank failures have captured the Fed's attention, what current actions are being taken to help bank customers, what other beats can benefit from learning about the Federal Reserve and all of the tools that the Fed has to control inflation.
Covering Crypto: From fallouts to future legislation
Mine the depths of decentralized finance in this virtual training session. In this webinar, we're covering crypto - its volatility, the FTX fallout and other crypto company collapses, and what we can expect from Congress and/or the SEC in 2023.
