NYT: Business journalists are looking for hope in bad economy

The New York Times' David Carr examines why business journalists are trying to find "glimmers of hope" and "the horns of a bull on two ferocious bears" even as the markets and the economy continue to deteriorate. Carr specifically references a CNBC segment where two guests, "hailed as visionaries for having foreseen the financial crisis," explain why the recession may be long and painful. But the CNBC anchors were not buying into the dire forecasts. Dennis Kneale did everything he could to get the guests to say something positive. 

According to Carr, business journalists are trained to deliver good news because "doomsayers generally don't make good television." While the news media is routinely accused of being too pessimistic, Carr does not think that's the case. Right now, business journalists are looking for "signs that the worst is behind us" and continue to strive to find something positive about the financial crisis. CNBC's managing editor Tyler Mathisen said, "We are looking for the crocuses and daffodils."

But Carr acknowledges business journalists need to "act like things are changing all the time" even when the fundamental lessons remain the same in order to engage audiences. According to one financial columnist, "You aren't doing your job right now if you don't have an in-box full of hate mail."  

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