Aaron Task Talks Cramer, Ethics and Tech Ticker - Zing Talk (YHOO)

Aaron Task, the host of Yahoo Finance's Tech Ticker recently had a conversation with Benzinga's Alex Schiff, where they discussed the viral Cramer video, ethics, and Twitter's role in finance.

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Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast in iTunes. Below is an abridged transcript of the interview.

Can you start off by telling us a little bit about yourself and what you do at Tech Ticker?

I am the host of Tech Ticker - my official title is Wall Street correspondent because before I came to Yahoo YHOO I was at thestreet.com TSCM covering the markets, finance, and the economy and Wall Street. I'm much more of a writer by trade.

How did you get involved in business journalism?

I came out of school as a journalism major in 1990 - the worst recession for graduates until the current - I got a job editting at Standard and Poor's News Wire, and from there I launched a career in financial journalism.

Who was your favorite guest on Tech Ticker?

If I had to pick one? I'd have to go with Steve Wozniak - he's such a unique individual, he's just as joyful and bouyant and alive as anyone I've ever met. He's very contagious, the energy he gives off.

Are there any trends or patterns you've noticed that have reappeared across the guests you've had on?

We're always trying to get something different, but obviously in the last couple years, so much of the discussion is about the role of the government in the economy. How much of a role the government should have, or should it have any role at all.

As the host of a show like Tech Ticker, it's a lot of listening and asking questions, and you're really limited in how much you're supposed to opine yourself. Has anyone ever said something on the show that just made you cringe and want to scream "You're wrong!" or anything like that?

No, and I do have the luxury of being able to insert my opinions. If someone says something I find outrageous or outlandish, I can say "Are you really saying X?" - I feel totally empowered to do that here, I think the audience expects it of me.

We received a few emails from our readers about this interview asking about the interview you did with Jim Cramer that was featured on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, where he said he could move a stock relatively easy. Were you surprised with how the video went viral?

I was a little shocked, a little taken aback. I don't think that he would perjure himself, and I still don't think that he did. I think he was saying "This is what you could do, if you wanted to, as a hedge fund manager" but because he's Jim Cramer and puts himself out for adulation and ridicule, people seized on it and he became a scape goat.

Do you think it was taken out of context?

No, I think people would have the same opinion because I didn't ask him directly "Are you saying this is what you did, or what someone in theory could do?" - I didn't have the wherewithal to do it because he was my boss, and I didn't know we were going to touch on a subject on that sensitivity.

You were an early adopter of Twitter?

I use Twitter as a newsfeed - it is all about who you follow, not who follows you or what you had for lunch. I follow a lot of news organizations and a lot of people who are focused on the market. It's one of the first things I check every morning. There are people I trust who will give me a breaking story before it is on the news wires themselves.

My understanding is that people under the age of 25 do not use Twitter - so Twitter is going to have to evolve, to catch on with the kids, so to speak.

I think [targetting customers] is totally ethical. If you love shopping at Target TGT - I don't know if Target does this (if they don't, they should) - if Target wants to post a link to an electronic coupon, I think that's great. I think that's of great value to you.

So what's the story for tech stocks over the next year? In this uncertain market, are the innovators destined to thrive or will capital constraints bring down the sector?

I really wish I had the answer to this question - then I wouldn't have to work for a living. It is so dicey right now. It is as challenging for the individual investor as ever before because of conflicting data. The market is so short-term right now that it is hard for a long-term investor. It is hard for an investor to feel that the game is not rigged - that you're getting what you think you're getting.

What do you think needs to happen before the market can make a sustainable turn upward?

I think we need to see sustained employment growth - I don't see that anytime soon. The market can go on people's extended belief that the market will turn. Fundamentally speaking? I don't know - we have huge macroeconomic issues in this country.

Where do you get your news from? Are there any particular sources you frequent?

Howard Lindzon, Abnormal Returns, New York Times Business NYT, Financial Times, MSNBC News, Wall Street Journal, Create Capital, Cluster Stock, Heather Moore, Contrahour, Reformed Broker, Upside Trader, Huffington Post Business, The_Real_Fly. I follow The Onion as well, there's always room for humor and frivolity.

Alright, now that we've got the tough ones out of the way, here are a few less hard-hitting questions. What was your first, and what was your worst job?

My first job I got paid for was working for the Town Parks and Rec Department and we also had to collect the garbage, which was also probably the worst job I ever had.

What do you like to do outside of your work with Tech Ticker?

I have an almost nine year old daughter, so I spend time with her outdoors. We go to the beach, we go to the town pool. I'm dating a chef, so I like to cook and I like to eat. Get some exercise and a really good meal. I do like to hear a lot of music. I tend to lean towards the Rock N'Roll side of things.

What is your favorite restaurant you've ever been to?

I'm sure it's not the best restaurant I've ever been to - but in Newark, there is a restaurant called Ciabris. I love that food, it's very authentic.

Okay, this last one is Benzinga's trademark question: What was the best, and what was the worst investment decision you've ever made?

This is easy for me. The best decision I ever made was in 2002 - I invested in the Gold Fund when gold was around $250 an ounce. That was the best investment I ever made. And then I sold the proceeds of that to pay for a house in 2006. That was the worst investment I ever made.