Lecture Transcript Notes
Introduction
- Introduction to the speaker's experience at the New York Times.
- Speaker joined NYT in 2006 with a business background.
Career at New York Times
- Initially covered advertising and marketing.
- Transitioned to covering Wall Street after the 2008 financial crisis.
- Used MBA from Yale School of Management to ask tough questions and uncover financial truths.
Importance of Business Education in Journalism
- MBA helped the speaker avoid becoming a mouthpiece for sources.
- Education allowed for critical reporting on financial fraud and inequalities.
Notable Investigations
- Securities Lending: Uncovered how banks made money at the expense of pension funds.
- Goldman Sachs: Reported on a major scandal involving a collateralized debt obligation deal called Abacus.
- Kleptocracy & Corrupt Funds: Investigated how corrupt money was laundered through US real estate, particularly in prestigious buildings like the Time Warner Center.
Challenges in Investigative Journalism
- Maintaining confidentiality and protecting whistleblowers.
- Working under different circumstances in international contexts, e.g., Malaysia.
Technology and Media
- Experience at Wall Street Journal involved digital transformation and early AI deployments in media.
- Advised on the integration of AI in media strategies.
- Challenges faced by news companies in deciding whether to collaborate with AI firms like OpenAI or invest internally.
Truth and Misinformation
- Concerns about AI perpetuating falsehoods due to unverified information sources.
- Importance of discerning and managing information quality in media.
Conclusion
- Acknowledgement of the speaker's contributions to journalism and their insights on truth in media and technology.
- Mention of the speaker's work on wealth inequality, particularly their book "15 Cents to the Dollar."
These notes cover the major points and themes of the discussion, capturing both the speaker's career highlights and industry insights.