The Enforcers

Abstract

This chapter examines the historical foundation of watchdog reporting in journalism and its application to business reporting; it argues that business journalists must watch over powerful corporations and alert society to potential threats. The press’s watchdog tradition should be examined through a new dimension for the trade press; it acts as an enforcer of normative behavior in a particular industry. Trade-press editors and reporters often are called the “conscience” of a given business as they report on people and companies that violate business ethics. In this fashion, trade journalists again serve a critical function in capitalism, helping markets self-regulate.