Two Minute Tips

Debbi G McCullough

Debbi Gardiner McCullough’s an executive communications coach and expert helping leaders speak and write in ways that others want to listen. Her expertise ties to clear and compelling writing (how to get there) and helping those with a clunky, inaccessible public presentation style overcome the fear, discomfort, and beliefs getting in their way. Debbi combines 35+ years’ experience teaching writing and executive communications as a college professor and reporting on business and social trends for global media including: The Guardian, Financial Times of London, the Economist, and BBC.

My Latest Articles

up even the most meticulous writer. Here are common mistakes to keep on your radar. ("Question Mark Sign" image by Colin Kinner via flickr, CCO Public Domain)

Tricky punctuation tips for business writers

Even the most precise writers are occasionally tripped up by punctuation. That’s particularly true nowadays, when newsrooms are lean and reporters are often expected to copy-edit their own work. This quick refresher on

The 2016 campaign shone a light on the U.S. Midwest, where a crop of business stories await investigation. (Farm image by "tafferdog" via pixabay)

Economic hotspot: Midwest business stories

The 2016 election shone a spotlight on the Midwest, placing new emphasis on the region’s economy and changing political landscape. This blog outlines some of the core business stories and themes

Many Americans make savings one of their New Year's resolutions. This data should jump-start a business story. ("Attack of the Piggy banks" image by "Low Jianwei" via flickr, CC B Y 2.0)

Story jump-start: Big data on savings

For many Americans, New Year’s brings a recurring resolution: Save more money. That can mean coming up with a retirement strategy, strategizing about college debt, paying off credit cards or just getting

Busy execs get up to 500 emails a day; here's how to craft one that will get a response. (Image by "janeb13" via pixabay CCO Public Domain)

How to ask for an interview via email: 5 key steps

Most of us spend 28 percent of our workday on email—deleting, sorting or responding—so it’s an essential tool for business reporters reaching out to sources and editors. But given that most senior executives

Business reporters can find rich stories in veterans returning to civilian life and entering the corporate world. (Image by "BookBabe" via pixabay, CCO Public Domain)

Story ideas about veterans in the workplace

Growing numbers of armed services veterans have found an excellent home for their skills in corporate America, and many large companies are attracting and retaining veterans through carefully crafted programs.

Twitter (Image from Pixelkult via Pixabay)

5 social media basics for business journalists

Today’s business reporters must be excellent writers, thorough reporters and savvy promoters. Many of us are responsible for pushing our work through social media channels to increase readership numbers. Here are some

From farm-to-table to environmental issues, there are plenty of oyster tales to be told. ("Oysters" image by Jeremy Keith via flickr CC BY 2.0)

Oyster season basics for business reporters  

Oyster season, which traditionally runs from fall through early spring, is a great time to harvest business stories on these tasty bivalves. Particularly as the oyster industry, global in scale,

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