Mitchell Hartman

Correspondent

SHORT BIO

Mitchell’s most important job at Marketplace is to explain the economy in ways that non-expert, non-business people can understand. Michell thinks of his audience as anyone who works, whether for money or not, and lives in the economy . . . which is most people.

Mitchell wants to understand, and help people understand, how the economy works, who it helps, who it hurts and why. Mitchell gets to cover what he thinks are some of the most interesting aspects of the economy: wages and inflation, consumer psychology, wealth inequality, economic theory and how it measures up to economic reality.

Mitchell was a high school newspaper nerd and a college newspaper editor. He has worked for The Philadelphia Inquirer, WXPN-FM, WBAI-FM, KPFK-FM, Pacifica Radio, the CBC, the BBC, Monitor Radio, Cairo Today Magazine, The Jordan Times, The Middletown Press, The New Haven Register, Oregon Business Magazine, the Reed College Alumni Magazine, and Marketplace (twice — 1994-2001 & 2008-present).

Mitchell has gone on strike (Newspaper Guild vs. Knight Ridder, Philadelphia, 1985) and helped organize a union (with SAG-AFTRA at Marketplace, 2021-23). Mitchell once interviewed Marcel Marceau and got him to talk.

Latest Stories (2,010)

Made-to-order no longer computes

Sep 5, 2008
Dell is looking to revamp its signature process of building its products to order. And it's reportedly talking about selling off most of its facilities and having somebody else make its computers. Mitchell Hartman reports.

Boeing machinists wait before walking

Sep 4, 2008
Union machinists at Boeing could hit picket lines by Friday night, if a two-day cooling off period doesn't stick. Mitchell Hartman has been following the story. He checks in with Kai Ryssdal.

Boeing union agrees to delay a strike

Sep 4, 2008
Boeing machinists, the airline's largest union, decisively reject the contract. However, they agree to put a walkout on hold for 48 hours to give Boeing a chance to renegotiate. Mitchell Hartman reports.

Retailers ready for evacuees' return

Sep 3, 2008
Big grocery store chains, like Albertsons, had been stocking up for weeks to prepare for the return of evacuees from hurricane Gustav. Mitchell Hartman has the story.

Hot Jobs: Baseball announcer

Aug 29, 2008
There's about a month left in Major League Baseball's regular season. But the minors have a long, hard season, too. To see what that world was all about, we went to Portland, Ore. to get the play-by-play. Last in a series.

A trial by fire for veggie burger maker

Aug 27, 2008
When Marie Osmunson received a huge order for her vegetarian burgers from one of the Northwest's most popular fast-food chains, she had a problem: How to deal with success. Mitchell Hartman reports.

Inflation hits 17-year high

Aug 14, 2008
The July Consumer Price Index rose more than expected, as the average weekly earnings fell in the same month. But how does that mesh with plummeting home prices? Mitchell Hartman reports.

High quality graphics chip, high price

Aug 13, 2008
Game enthusiasts are excited about chip company AMD's latest graphics card. And while the technology promises to thrill the eyes, the price tag is similarly mind-blowing. Mitchell Hartman reports.

'Netbook' computers coming to market

Aug 12, 2008
Tech watchers are anticipating Dell's unveiling of a new laptop that's lighter and more compact -- and more affordable. Mitchell Hartman reports on new "netbook" computers that make up for a lack of storage by being more convenient.

Businesses feel credit card squeeze

Aug 5, 2008
With more Americans paying their credit card bills late or not at all, issuers are clamping down on credit lines. But that's hurting small businesses, which rely on credit to pay their bills. Mitchell Hartman reports.