Online seminar – Friends at Wall Street Journal

Dr Guosong Xu, Assistant Professor of Finance, Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University

I study the effect of firm journalist connections on media slant and stock returns using a dataset on firm connections to Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reporters. When corporate events are covered by connected reporters, the news sentiment becomes markedly more favourable, leading to higher short term stock returns and long term price corrections. For identification, I instrument connected coverage using reporter turnover and find similar results. Connections to the media owner also matter. I use Rupert Murdoch’s acquisition of the WSJ as an exogenous shock and show that firms connected to Murdoch receive better coverage after the ownership change.

Speaker bio

Dr Guosong Xu is an Assistant Professor of Finance at Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University. He received his PhD from WHU Otto Beisheim School of Management in Germany and was a visiting scholar at Stern Business School, New York University. His research interests lie in the area of corporate finance, political economics, and behavioural finance. His work has been selected for presentations in the American Finance Association, European Finance Association, and FIRS meetings.

To join the seminar, join the Zoom meeting and enter the meeting ID.

Meeting ID: 974 7940 5614

Password: 140707

The seminar may be recorded and shared on Cambridge Judge Business School’s websites, social media, and other channels.