During Reynolds Business Journalism Week 2014, business journalism professors created sample lessons that can be implemented in new and existing journalism courses. "Small Business Coverage Demo" was presented by Melony Shemberger, assistant professor at Murray State University; Eric M. Wilson, instructor, adviser and outreach coordinator at Wichita State University; and Nerissa Young, lecturer at Ohio University in Athens. For more information on business coverage training for journalists, please visit businessjournalism.org.

1. Learning objective:
Identify the key issues that impact small
business owners.

2. }
Small business Saturday

3. Employ half of all private sector employees.
} Pay 43 percent of total U.S. private payroll.
} Generated 65 percent of net new jobs over
past 17 years.
} Hire 43 percent of high-tech workers.
} Are 52 percent home-based and 2 percent
franchise.
} Produced 31 percent of export value in FY
2008.
}
}
Source: U.S. Small Business Administration

4. Independent businesses with fewer than 500
employees
} Neighbors who consume local goods
} Franchise owners, retailers, manufacturers,
inventors, professionals, tradespeople,
farmers
}

5. Financing
} Employee wages and benefits
} Finding/retaining employees
} Workforce development/employee training
} Identifying market/customers
} Taxes
} Laws/regulations
}

6. Liability insurance
} Mergers
} Longevity
} Work-life balance
}

7. Melony Shemberger, Murray State University
} Eric Wilson, Wichita State University
} Nerissa Young, Ohio University
}