A Q&A with Wall Street Journal's eminent tax reporter, Laura Saunders, reveals why some find writing about tax law so fascinating and rewarding:
- Satisfies Sleuthing Impulse: "I love information–digging it out and distilling it for readers, which is what reporters do. Call it my Nancy Drew impulse."
- Human Element: "Early on, I gravitated to covering taxes because they are at the intersection of economics, politics, and our everyday lives. . . . Later I gravitated to writing about individual income taxes, which raise more revenue than any other levy and touch our lives in so many ways."
Like Saunders, I studied literature, got a masters' degree in literature, and then gravitated to tax law because I enjoy challenging puzzles.[1] I write about tax issues (among other estate planning topics) because I also enjoy packaging complex information in ways that can help people.[2]
"Working at [the Wall Street Journal] has been terrific," states Saunders. "I love being surrounded by smart, helpful colleagues . . . My editors have been great." I blogged briefly at Forbes.com, and the thing I miss the most is the smart, helpful colleagues and editors. I hope a community of brilliant minds will gravitate to this website and contribute by commenting on posts and even writing articles.
I learn so much from Saunders' articles at the Wall Street Journal, and I hope one day to write as well as she. If you want to read informative and accessible reporting, then read her articles: https://www.wsj.com/news/author/laura-saunders
Hani Sarji
Lawyer and writer. Husband, father of daughter, son, brother to one brother and two sisters, uncle to eight nieces and nephews, and great uncle. Has two dogs and two cats. Loves technology and music.
Leave a Comment