“The story the numbers tell”: Ottaway professor Rob Cox talks financial journalism at Q & A

Financial journalist and editorial entrepreneur Rob Cox, this year’s James H. Ottaway Sr. Visiting Professor of Journalism, introduced himself to New Paltz at a question and answer event hosted by President Donald P. Christian on Feb. 7.

The Q & A is an annual favorite in the schedule of events related to the Ottaway Professorship, providing students, faculty and community members with a rare chance to hear stories from journalists at the top of their craft in a familiar, dialogic setting.

Cox recounted his humble beginnings in the journalism industry delivering the Danbury News-Times, one of James Ottaway’s early employers, and how he eventually ended up reporting on business, economics and finance.

“I became fascinated by it,” Cox said. “One of the things about business and finance is that numbers don’t really tell lies, and you can test what people say in a way that’s different from covering politics. I love looking for the story the numbers tell.”

Cox is challenging journalism students to do exactly that during his time as New Paltz, in the “Financial Journalism and the Business of Media” course he’s leading.

“What we’re trying to do in class is just to understand how to read the numbers,” Cox said. “Many journalists can’t read an income statement, or a local town budget. The math is pretty simple, top-line to bottom-line, but what happens in between – how you go from revenue to profit or loss – is what’s important.”

Cox also spoke of his experiences following the Dec. 14, 2012 attack on Sandy Hook Elementary School, in his hometown of Newtown, Conn., and how and why he helped found Sandy Hook Promise, a non-profit organization dedicated to the prevention of gun-related violence and death.

In support of Cox’s advocacy on this issue, the College will screen the documentary “Newtown” on Tuesday, March 7 in Lecture Center 102. Following the screening will be a panel discussion featuring Cox, documentary director Kim Snyder, IDMH founder James Halpern and David Wheeler, parent of one of the children killed at Sandy Hook.

That event, sponsored by the Department of Digital Media & Journalism, the Department of Psychology and the Institute for Disaster Mental Health (IDMH), will be free and open to the public.

Cox is available to participate in other classes and events on campus this spring. Faculty interested in inviting Rob to speak with students or in other settings may contact Lisa Phillips, associate professor of journalism and Ottaway coordinator, at phillipl@newpaltz.edu.

About the James H. Ottaway Sr. Visiting Professorship
The James H. Ottaway Sr. Visiting Professorship, SUNY New Paltz’s only endowed professorship, is named for the founder of Ottaway Newspapers Inc., now the Dow Jones Local Media Group, which operates print and online community media franchises in seven states. The flagship newspaper of the chain is the Times Herald-Record in Middletown, N.Y.

Fifteen well-known journalists have preceded Cox as Ottaway professors.