CNBC senior analyst visits SMU

CNBC's Ron Insana paid a visit to the SMU campus Monday and pretty much scared the hell out of me. According to the financial expert, I have a lot more to learn before I can become a successful journalist.

Insana said that for journalism majors to thrive, they must know just as much about the business world as they do about current events. "Today you can't have one without the other," he said. In most cases, the market predicts the news.

So what am i, the hopeful journalist and economic dimwit, to do? "Use the market, as opposed to just watch the market," Insana said. Or, in my case, stick to entertainment news...nothing beats a pop-star legend gone bald.

But for political journalists, Insana advises they pay close attention to stock fluctations because they often precede major world events. During the Gulf War, for instance, oil prices jumped from $15 to $25 in just 6 weeks. If journalists paid attention, they would have noticed troops moving in the Middle East.

For those who actually get this financial stuff, Insana left us with a piece of good advice... "You're job is not to move the market or stocks," he said. "If you want to make an impact, you need to change a company's PERCEPTION and something will happen after your report."

Hmmm.... guess I should have paid more attention in econ!