Speaking of Bad Business Journalism
Mimi Bliss, a competent television news reporter for WSMV-Channel 4 in Nashville, did the traditional day-after-Christmas shopping story for the local news program Thursday night and hit all the usual notes about post-Christmas sales and crowded malls, but one part of her story seemed a bit off. Bliss said that the holiday season shopping totals wouldn't really be known until after January 1, because of post-Christmas shopping. But then she implied that one reason for the season's numbers not to be tallied yet was the rapid growth in the giving of "gift cards" - those credit card-like payment cards that are really just fancy gift certificates. If she'd thought about it long enough, Bliss wouldn't have made that implication. Because with gift cards the retailer has already made the sale. The money is in the bank. They're just waiting for you to pick out the merchandise.

It's alright to get your wrecks-and-fires coverage from TV - I just wouldn't bank my financial future on their business coverage.