Securities Fraud Content – What I’m Reading, Part One (Newspapers)

I’m often asked what I read on a regular basis regarding securities and investment fraud. Back in the day (say, pre-Enron), there was limited print and online coverage of investment misconduct. In fact, when I told people what I did for a living, some would actually question whether our niche practice was even viable, “you mean there’s fraud going on on Wall Street?” Ah, how the world has changed. First Sam Israel, then the Bear Stearns High Grade Funds, and finally, the big whale of the Bernie Madoff affair.

Now, financial fraud news is general business news. Just look how Vanity Fair has scored huge every month with one strong financial story after another (Madoff, Fairfield Greenwich, Marc Dreier, Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley survival, etc.). Here is a little a look at what I’m presently reading, for better or worse. Today, I’ll focus on newspapers.

I start with the Financial Times. Worldly, smart, a cut above the rest for global coverage of finance. I particularly like Gillian Tett’s column and Greg Farrell’s Street coverage. I read the NY Times business section (mostly because it’s attached to the Sports section, but that’s a whole other issue). Gretchen Morgenson, Jenny Anderson, and newly appointed wonder kid Andrew Ross Sorkin, are all strong. No one covers investor protection better than Gretchen. And I love Ben Stein. However, it’s too bad the Times won’t throw more resources at its Street coverage. I also read the Wall Street Journal daily, especially on breaking finance news issues. Kate Kelley’s coverage of Bear Stearns collapse was award winning stuff. When the Journal sends its entire squadron on a topic, no one can top its finance coverage. I used to read the Post’s coverage but since Roddy Boyd left, it’s not as interesting.

Since The Economist calls itself a newspaper, I’ll include it in this section. The most intelligent weekly by far. Their in depth, forward looking analysis is unparalleled. It’s a bit daunting however on a weekly basis (like The New Yorker).

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