Business journalism touted as lucrative career path at NCU Symposium

Business journalism offers lucrative career opportunities for journalists willing to tackle financial topics many people find intimidating, says media executive, Kalilah Reynolds.

“Many people are intimidated by financial news, but that’s exactly why business journalism is so valuable,” Reynolds explained. “If you can break down complex topics and make them accessible, you’ll find a wealth of opportunities both professionally and financially. There’s a real demand for journalists who aren’t afraid of numbers and who can tell compelling stories about money, markets, and entrepreneurship,” said Reynolds, CEO and founder of Money Media Limited, during Northern Caribbean University’s (NCU) 2025 Week of Excellence Symposium recently.

The 2025 Week of Excellence Symposium featured keynote speaker Reynolds alongside three other leading industry experts – Audrey Wiiliams, Tara Playfair Scott and Vaughn Davis, who were all slated to lead breakout sessions.

Reynolds suggested that alternately some journalists choose business reporting to avoid heavy writing requirements in other areas of media instead of from the desire to do in-depth business reporting.

Having explored the entrepreneurial opportunities and challenges within business media, Reynolds’ presentation then addressed a core tenet of journalism, that of objectivity.

“A writer’s personality must be injected into the story,” she stated. “I don’t believe that a story can be fully unbiased as opinions can humanise a story.”

This perspective represents an evolution in journalistic thinking, suggesting that appropriate personal context can create more engaging content for audiences while maintaining journalistic integrity.

Reynolds also addressed concerns about traditional media adapting to digital transformation, noting that journalists have always been content creators at heart.

“Journalists have been producing news, podcasts, and radio shows long before ‘content creation’ became a buzzword,” she said. “That’s why it’s so natural for media professionals to transition into new formats and platforms. The skills are already there; it’s just about applying them in different ways.”

The media executive didn’t shy away from discussing journalism’s darker realities, revealing that many practitioners require therapeutic support due to traumatic workplace experiences.

“Many journalists are subjected to therapy,” Reynolds said. “This is due to the fact that many of their lives are endangered on a regular basis.”

To illustrate this point, she recounted being instructed to wear a bulletproof vest following an interview – an experience she described as deeply unsettling.

For articulation-conscious students, Reynolds recommended speaking at a measured pace, thorough preparation before broadcasts, and developing techniques to control nervousness.

Attendee Kevin Black described the experience as “eye opening” on the realities of modern journalism careers.

The 2025 Week of Excellence continued through Friday with additional events focusing on various aspects of communication studies and media practice.