Nov. 15 training session to help N.C. biz journalists understand economic data

The UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media and Department of Public Policy will provide a training session for North Carolina business journalists to help them understand economic data on Friday, Nov. 15, from 9 - 11 a.m. at the William and Ida Friday Center for Continuing Education in Chapel Hill.

The speakers will include:

• Michael Walden, William Neal Reynolds Distinguished Professor and  Extension Economist at North Carolina State University;
• Stephanie McGarrah, former Assistant Secretary of the N.C. Department of Commerce and now a lecturer in the UNC Department of Public Policy; and
• Chris Roush, Walter E. Hussman Sr. Distinguished Scholar in business journalism at the Hussman School of Journalism and Media.

They will be moderated by Daniel Gitterman, the Thomas Willis Lambeth Distinguished Chair in Public Policy.

The topics to be discussed will include how to better report and use data such as GDP, employment/unemployment, industry data and housing and retail prices in writing about the economy.

“There’s so much economic data out there that it’s often hard to find the stories,” said Roush. “We want to show journalists how they can use this data more effectively to write better stories.”

The event is free. Breakfast will be served.

To attend, RSVP by Nov. 8 to Roush at croush@email.unc.edu.