Dawn Wotapka’s Media Movers: InvestmentNews’ EIC Paul Curcio

When InvestmetNews went on the lookout for a new EIC, he was now there. The management promoted Paul Curcio, an business veteran with a roster of best-tier publications on his resume. (Be aware to employing professionals: In some cases the greatest man or woman for the position is right underneath your nose.)

Paul’s serving as the linchpin in sweeping spherical of adjustments designed to mature the stalwart trade publication’s footprint. His group also incorporates properly-regarded reporters Gregg Greenberg,  Ryan Neal (who returned to the pub) and Joanne Cleaver, who turned the recently established DEI Editor. Paul’s remarkable track record created him suitable for the task: He has held a variety of roles at large-profile manufacturers like The Associated Press, Dow Jones and TheStreet, exactly where he labored to build an investigative information group. But he’s also been a university lecturer, radio host and a section-time reside gatherings producer.

I talked with Paul, who is also an avid musician and proprietor of an Italian Greyhound named Leo, about his views on social media, exactly where he’s uncovered good mentors and how that reside gatherings position assists him nowadays.

Dawn Wotapka: Notify me about InvestmentNews. Who’s your audience?

Paul Curcio: We’re an on the internet and print B2B magazine centered on the money expert services marketplace. We cater to economic advisers, retirement planners and wealth administrators.

Dawn: What is the biggest obstacle you experience as an editor?

Paul: Retaining up with at any time-shifting norms. Google seems to improve Search engine marketing guidelines at will and devoid of warning. As soon as anyone on the crew learns a new app or system, it will get up to date or gets to be out of date. Social media is vexing (to use) concerning the meltdown at Twitter and greater use of algorithms restricting what persons see in their Fb and Instagram feeds. And then there is TikTok. A few a long time back, anyone had to be on Snapchat. So, social media method is like setting up castles in the sand.

Last but not least, it is frustrating when the harmless use of words in a headline or an image in a story triggers an accusation that we are socially or culturally insensitive. We are not we’re the only news outlet in our area with a DEI editor. And we devote most of our awards and gatherings to DEI and have an entire challenge dedicated to women of all ages in the marketplace.

Dawn: What has you the most optimistic about your company’s upcoming?

Paul: We are the leader in our place. We were amid the very first to deal with the advisory business – in 1998— and we have the best roster of talent in our B2B sector, which presents us lots of road cred. We have the longest-serving journalists in our niche, with approximately 60 several years of put together support amongst our a few foremost senior columnists. We do not just deal with goings-on. We place news into context and delve into what it implies for our visitors. That’s complemented by a strong slate of situations and awards programs that established the typical for excellence in advising and investing. As a end result, we have a loyal foundation that sustains our business and our standing in the industry.

Dawn: I see that you have classic print journalism working experience and you have also invested time at a wire, radio and trade pub. I love this selection. What’s your favorite kind of journalism and why?

Paul: My favorite form of journalism is good journalism that serves the readers’ ideal interests with no concealed agenda. So, for me, the medium is irrelevant it’s the benefits that make a difference. Are you giving top quality information and facts to your visitors or just pushing a narrative for clicks or to promote a political ideology? That is not journalism — at finest it’s infotainment and, at worst, propaganda.

Dawn:  How did you transition between print and electronic, duplicate modifying, and a newswire function without having getting that certain encounter?

Paul: You start out attaining knowledge on your initial working day at any new task. It is like the proverbial journey of a thousand miles: Experience will come with each and every action. If you use the concepts of great reporting, writing and enhancing, you will excel in any function in any newsroom, no matter whether you’ve finished it just before or not.

Dawn: Who has mentored you above the a long time? What have they accomplished or mentioned that experienced lasting impression?

Paul: I look at the staff at InvestmentNews to be my mentors. I experienced hardly ever lined monetary suggestions just before coming to IN, so every single day for the previous 3 a long time has been a learning encounter. They are the very best in the small business, and I’m privileged to share a newsroom with them. I’ve been at various substantial-profile news organizations, but the finest group of persons I have had the privilege to function with is appropriate listed here at IN.

Dawn: I appreciate that you have “live gatherings producer” expertise. How does that experience assist you nowadays?

Paul: News is a great deal like are living occasions. You’re placing alongside one another a particular solution for a certain audience inside a specific time body in actual-time. It’s a thrill a minute. You have to be agile sufficient to acquire whatever’s thrown at you.

Dawn: If you could do some thing otherwise at one particular of your earlier work opportunities, what would it be?

Paul: I’d have been extra vocal about my drive to shift into a management position faster.

Dawn: What are you seeking for in current hires?

Paul: In normal, professionalism and accountability. That’s in quick source. Extra specifically, I glimpse for good news judgment. Both you have it or you never (even though some may well disagree with me about that). It is not anything that can be taught quickly, but it can be discovered or at least sharpened with time and follow. Acquiring it is a terrific basis for achievements in any newsroom.

Dawn: If I gave you $100 million (or more, if necessary) to start a new publication, what would the business model be?

Paul: Which is a challenging concern mainly because it speaks to the existential dilemma going through the news company: profitability. The viewers for information looks to be shrinking. In the meantime, we have been applying 20th-century organization alternatives to 21st-century problems. The field lacks innovation and clings to outdated notions of how persons consume news and, additional importantly, how significantly it’s value to them. So, the expense to start off a new publication is critical, as the return on investment is constrained and the risk is large.

Dawn: That is a intriguing angle.

Paul: A $100 million startup is heading to have pretty superior expectations. I’d stay clear of elevating it from personal equity, as they have a slim financial commitment horizon and no endurance. Alternatively glimpse for very long-term investors who see the major photograph and can weather the inevitable rough occasions when you construct a status, an audience, and a recognizable and trusted brand name. Emphasize and reward strong journalism as a substitute of selling clickbait, faux information and stealth marketing dressed up as news. Folks are starved for top quality and constantly satisfied to embrace a new voice – if it’s authentic. I guess my organization product would be: If you create it suitable, they will come.

Dawn Wotapka is a previous Wall Avenue Journal reporter who just enjoys to examine and generate. She lives in Atlanta with her husband and two kids. She is a gradual runner and an avid Peloton consumer. To post recommendations for her Media Movers column, you can make contact with her at [email protected]. Be guaranteed to hook up with Dawn on LinkedIn.