This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2010, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Nearly everyone works, and even those who don't work spend money.
These two statements remain true even as the changing media environment challenges Salt Lake Tribune managers to constantly re-evaluate our assumptions, adapt and innovate.
They are why The Tribune — unlike many daily newspapers including our closest competitors — have elected to maintain a robust business reporting and editing team to produce daily employment, financial and consumer news. Uniquely in our market, The Tribune produces a standalone Money section in print and continuously updates business news online beginning at 7 a.m. each weekday.
Our team of veteran business journalists has the privilege — and the responsibility — to cover the most significant story of our time. The Great Recession has touched each of us in inexorable ways, and under business editor Michael Limon, our team works each day to help readers make sense of the often contradictory world of economics and finance.
We've produced coverage in the past year we hope has achieved our goal to explain how and where the crisis has most profoundly affected Utahns.
Last month, economics and banking reporter Paul Beebe in an exclusive story reported how the Federal Reserve through emergency loans and loan commitments intended to stave off chaos injected a staggering $6.6 billion into Utah-based financial institutions. (http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/money/50817951-79/bank-loans-utah-million.html.csp)
In November, Beebe's look at St. George as the epicenter of the recession and the repressed recovery in Utah (http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/money/50658043-79/county-percent-george-washington.html.csp) concluded a yearlong series led by workplace and employment reporter Mike Gorrell that examined near record-setting joblessness in the state.
A team led by reporters Tony Semerad, Julia Lyon and Lesley Mitchell in May completed a project using RealtyTrac data to show that in Salt Lake City, foreclosure filings doubled in the first three months of 2010 compared with the same period a year earlier, the highest rate of increase for all U.S. cities. (http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/home/49622095-73/utah-foreclosure-foreclosures-lake.html.csp) The series of stories the team produced correctly predicted the foreclosure crisis would worsen. It explored why Utah has suffered more than other states, and proffered some possible solutions.
Beyond investigative, watchdog and explanatory reporting, The Tribune also emphasizes utilitarian business news.
You've told us that now more than ever, you want to know how to be better consumers.
Mitchell, who covers personal finance and real estate, embraces her conversation with you through her Saturday column, her One Cheap Chick blog (sltrib.com/blogs/cheapchick) and her continuous Twitter and Facebook updates, all of which alert readers to money-saving ideas, tips and coupons.
The Tribune continues to publish stock listings online at markets.sltrib.com and summarizes market activity in print. If we don't list a stock you follow in the print edition and you don't use a computer, call 800-555-TELL. After listening to a short greeting, say "stock quotes," and you'll be directed from there to the listing you seek.
On Thursday we publishGood Housekeeping's "Savvy Consumer" column and on Sunday, Wall Street Journal Sunday, two full pages of columns and articles about investing, family finance, retirement planning and other personal finance news.
Our colleagues nationwide praise our coverage. For the past twoyears, the Society of American Business Editors and Writers has singled out The Tribune as one of just three newspapers of our size to merit a general excellence designation in its annual contest.
We're much more interested, however, in what you think of us. Are we doing our job?
Again, we know we must constantly re-evaluate, adapt and innovate in our changing world. In the end, we work for you.
Let us know what you need or want that we're not giving you in our Money section or at sltrib.com by commenting on this column online or sending suggestions to either lisac@sltrib.com or to business editor Limon (mlimon@sltrib.com).
Lisa Carricaburu is an assistant managing editor. Contact her at lisac@sltrib.com or 801-257-8716. —
Tell us what you think
Do you have a tip, suggestion, problem or criticism you would like The Tribune's business reporting and editing team address? Here's the team's contact information:
Michael Limon • business editor; mlimon@sltrib.com, 801-257-8798
John Keahey • assistant business editor and online editor; jkeahey@sltrib.com, 801-257-8729
Paul Beebe • covers economics, banking, health care and airlines; pbeebe@sltrib.com, 801-257-8721
Mike Gorrell • covers workplace and employment, tourism, outdoors industry, natural resources industries; mikeg@sltrib.com, 801-257-8734
Tom Harvey • covers high-tech, biotech and natural products industries, investments and securities fraud; tharvey@sltrib.com, 801-257-8767
Dawn House • covers food and beverage industries, alcoholic beverage control, agriculture, women in the workplace; dawn@sltrib.com, 801-257-8783
Lesley Mitchell • covers real estate and personal finance; lesley@sltrib.com, 801-257-8714, @cheapchick on Twitter, sltrib.com//blogs/cheapchick
Steven Oberbeck • covers utilities, telecommunications, manufacturing, securities; steve@sltrib.com, 801-257-8715