Boring TV.
The media has an important role to play in producing better outcomes for investors.
We need journalists not only to help improve standards of investor education but also to ratchet up the pressure on the vested interests that stand in the way of more transparency and lower fees.
I’m sure that most journalists would like to assist on both of those fronts. The problem is that they also have to sell newspapers and attract viewers. Repeatedly reminding people that they should be using index funds is not a good business model — especially when most of these media outlets rely on the substantial advertising that active fund managers provide.
This frustrating dilemma is explored in this excellent article by Harold Pollack in The Atlantic, which I can highly recommend:
The best investing advise has always been too boring for TV
ROBIN POWELL is a freelance journalist and the founding editor of The Evidence-Based Investor. Based in Birmingham, England, he founded Ember Television and Regis Media, and he specialties in helping disruptive financial firms to grow. He also campaigns for a fair, transparent and sustainable investing industry. You can follow him on Twitter at @RobinJPowell.
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