50 Cent in the FT

There's a fascinating interview with 50 Cent in the Financial Times. Yes, the rapper 50 Cent, in the Financial Times, the English equivalent of the Wall Street Journal. This seems somewhat incongruous - doesn't the Financial Times cover things like bonds and tax policy debates? Yes, but it's also broadened its perspective quite a bit, particularly in the weekend edition. The FT is becoming what I call a "world newspaper." In America, the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal are effectively local newspapers that have gone national, both in terms of their reporting and availability - they cover stories well outside of New York, and can be bought just about anywhere.

The Financial Times has taken this to the next level. They routinely cover stories from all parts of the world, and not just from a financial perspective. Culturally, their reporting is particularly wide-ranging. It's a strange blessing of globalization. On the one hand, it allows readers from all over the world to experience different cultures just by reading a newspaper. On the other hand, all of those different cultures are covered from the perspective of a former imperial power. On the whole, I think it's a net positive. Bankers in Geneva will presumably benefit from a positive appraisal of the business acumen of 50 Cent.