On May 1st, financial journalism will be losing one of its best voices.
In a post on his blog this morning, Herb Greenberg wrote that "I'm leaving MarketWatch, Dow Jones and traditional journalism to start an independent research firm with my friend, Debbie Meritz, an analyst/accountant who has been a very good source of ideas in the past."
In addition to being an all-around great guy, Herb is one of the best scambusters in the business, calling shenanigans at companies like Krispy Kreme (NYSE: KKD) and Novastar Financial long before analysts or the SEC had caught a whiff of anything.
He's also demonstrated tremendous bravery, continuing to write about Overstock.com (NASDAQ: OSTK), even after libelous comments by its CEO/village idiot Patrick Byrne referring to him as a "crooked reporter."
Herb will be leaving MarketWatch May 1st, and there may be some downtime before his research firm begins alerting investors to hype and exaggeration. So if you're a crooked CEO looking to dupe investors, you might have a narrow window of opportunity before Greenberg is back on the case.
Herb Greenberg leaving MarketWatch
Posted Apr 15th 2008 2:05PM by Zac Bissonnette
Filed under: Media World
Twitter finally reveals revenue ambition, wants to be Google -- but not yet
Google says: Chrome for Christmas
Why is gold marching higher? Ask the central bankers
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-15-2008 @ 4:52PM
idpatch said...
Zac, I love your unbiased rhetoric.
"even after libelous comments by its CEO/village idiot Patrick Byrne" - Do you have any proof that what Byrne has stated is in fact not true?
Could it be that Herb was in bed with the short sellers and you just aren't intelligent enough to pick that out? Just the other day Gasparino was interviewed by SABEW and he walked that fine line regarding such alliances that take place within the industry. My bet, he had Herb on his mind when he made the comment.
Herb became a success based on his "sources". Question is, how far was Herb willing to go as the mouthpiece to achieve the success?
4-15-2008 @ 5:28PM
Serge Birbrair said...
Whom to believe, whom to believe,
Zac Bissonnette who posts under his real name or "idpatch"?
psst, the question is rethorical, don't bother with the answer....at least 'til you grow some balls and be willing to put them on the line like the rest of us do.
4-15-2008 @ 5:28PM
idpatch said...
Serge, names Dave Patch and in knowing such doesn't change a thing.
Byrne not only has former Gradient employees speaking out about Greenberg but business writers who have passed on to him nearly 1000 e-mails of which they were part of the communication loop Herb was in. The only reason Greenberg can thump his chest as he has is because the staff blocked the division of Enforcements investigation into him. Apparently analysts and journalists can say what they will without the backbone to be held accountable.
4-15-2008 @ 7:32PM
Serge Birbrair said...
Dave,
do you have a PROOF!? You are throwing serious acusation here or... you just need fresh materials for
http://www.thesanitycheck.com/Blogs/DavePatchsBlog/tabid/66/Default.aspx
If you have the proof good enough for the court of law - shoot, if you don't,
I'll just smile and nod, smile and nod.
What is it going to be?
Proof or my smile? Do you have anything to erase the smile off my face?
4-15-2008 @ 7:32PM
Serge Birbrair said...
Dave, KNOWING name does make a lot of difference.
I see you like going after "big fish"?
http://www.thesanitycheck.com/BobsSanityCheckBlog/tabid/56/EntryID/422/Default.aspx
I have somethign for you worth your energy and talent.
How about throwing your weight and get in the middle of the $330 billions Wall Street heist of the Century!?
In case you don't know what I am talking about, here are the details:
http://arsclassaction.com
and
http://www.nothingcontroversial.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=25
Exposing $330,000,000,000 fraud can be a target of the lifetime.
Will you join our fight!? Those bastards desrve it much more than Herb Greenberg.