- Docente: Antonio Vanuzzo
- Credits: 3
- SSD: SECS-P/11
- Language: English
- Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
- Campus: Bologna
- Corso: Second cycle degree programme (LM) in Quantitative Finance (cod. 8854)
Learning outcomes
The seminar in Financial journalism aims to provide the students with a set of practical skills to understand, debunk and play with the news. Regulatory releases such as companies mandatory quarterly reports and macroeconomic data as well as quality journalism flag up potential warning signs a risk manager should be able to pinpoint before the competitors do. Thus, cross checking techniques financial journalists apply in their everyday workflow constitute a complimentary ability in order to develop a critical reading of the news, and the data behind. Training risk managers able to level information unbalances is key to make the markets more efficient
Course contents
The first lesson offers an overview of the international media landscape with a focus on financial outlets. It also focuses on what is "news" and the difference between news and opinions. The second lesson focuses on reading through the lines of mandatory communications of companies trading in regulated markets to find key pieces of information that might have an impact on share and bonds prices. The third lesson examines mandatory communications of the international bodies and central banks and how those set investor expectations. The fourth and fifth lessons focus on two practical case histories. In 2020/2021 we'll be focusing on the rise of ESG investments and how technology impacts financial markets.
Professionals working in the City of London are often invited to join the lessons as guests and the students are strongly encouraged to ask questions.
The financial journalism course is an interactive one. Students will be frequently asked to contribute to the contents proposed during the lessons and be asked questions to exercise their critical mindset.
Readings/Bibliography
The suggested bibliography, which includes a mix of books on journalism and financial journalism, is not mandatory for the exam, but it is recommended to achieve a general knowledge of financial journalism. The list below is not exhaustive and might change over time.
• The greatest trade ever, Zuckerman Gregory
• The Predators’ Ball, Bruck Connie
• The Universal Journalist, Randall David
Teaching methods
Slides presentation. Guests working in the financial sector at various levels will be invited. Attendance to the course is not mandatory but strongly recommended.
Assessment methods
Written exam split into three parts. The first part encompasses five multiple choice questions, the second part five open questions and the third part a short article of maximum 20 lines. Each part is worth 10 points. Correct answers are worth 2 points, blank or wrong answers are worth 0. The aforementioned exam test might be subject to change.
Teaching tools
Power point slides and Skype/Whatsapp calls with professionals working in the financial industry in London
Office hours
See the website of Antonio Vanuzzo