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Reynolds Chair Professor Pamela Luecke

Business Journalism Curriculum

Business Journalism Brochure
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"The business journalism segment was fantastic.  I really can't say enough about the journalism department and its ability to engage the student, and make learning so much fun....  As for the economics classes, once I got into some of the higher-level economic principles, I felt the challenge of balancing that with writing, and it was tough but very rewarding."

Geoffrey Rogow, '04

Dow Jones Newswires, Jersey City, New Jersey

Business Journalism

The field of business journalism has grown dramatically in the past 20 years.  Yet the preparation of journalists to write about economic and financial topics has not kept up with that growth.  Daily newspapers, specialized magazines, Internet-news sites and television stations are all eager for employees who can both understand business concepts and communicate those concepts in terms that readers and viewers will easily understand.

At Washington and Lee

The business journalism program at Washington and Lee University addresses this need.  Begun in 2002, the program bridges two historic strengths of the university: its journalism department and its undergraduate School of Commerce, Economics and Politics.  The program also taps the resources at the Washington and Lee School of Law.

The program was launched with a $1.5 million grant from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation, which created an endowed chair for business journalism in the journalism department.  In 2004 and again in 2007, the Reynolds Foundation augmented its original grant with  three-year $450,000 awards.

The Donald W. Reynolds Foundation is a national philanthropic organization founded in 1954 by the late media entrepreneur for whom it is named.  It is one of the 50 largest foundations in the United States.

Curriculum

Students following the business journalism sequence will take most of the required courses for the journalism major plus two specialized courses: Reporting on Business and Reporting on the Economy.  They also will take at least seven classes in the Williams School, including Economics 101 and 102 and Introduction to Accounting.  four additional upper level classes must be taken in Accounting, Management or Economics, including at least one with an international focus.  They must also complete an internship of at least 300 hours. 

The Reynolds program regularly brings business journalists to campus to talk to students about the profession.  Recent speakers have included Michelle Leder, footnoted.org; Kurt Eichenwald, The New York Times; John Pomfret, The Washington Post; Allan Sloan, Newsweek; Diana Henriques, The New York Times; Bethany McIean, Fortune magazine; Trudy Lieberman, Consumer Reports; Jeffrey Birnbaum, now with the Washington Post; and David Brown, Marketplace radio.

Preparation for the Real World

Because of the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation, paid summer business journalism internships are available for all business-journalism majors.  Locations for summer 2008 include Reuters News Service, The Philadelphia Business Journal, The Charlotte Observer, The Virginian-Pilot, and The Miami Herald.