In journalism or academic studies, a special report is an in-depth exploration of a specific subject matter. This can be a controversial topic such as alleged wrongdoing or corruption, or it can be a more technical subject matter that requires a high level of understanding and expertise to tackle. Specialized reporting can help journalists increase their credibility and provide valuable insight into complex subjects for their audience.
A special report is a research article that presents the findings of an analytical, qualitative or quantitative study to a scholarly audience. It often includes illustrations and other visual representations to enhance its credibility. Typically, a research report will include an introduction section that highlights existing research knowledge in the area under investigation and pinpoints areas that are still unexplored. It will also outline the aims of the researcher’s systematic investigation.
Special reports can be used to highlight unique information needs while maintaining professional standards and clarity. They can be prepared independently from a normal audit or alongside one. They can be used to comply with contractual agreements or regulatory provisions and can include certain sections, accounts or items of a financial statement.
The Hastings Center’s Special Reports publish essay sets organized around key issues in bioethics. They can be single-authored essays or collections of essays submitted by members of project working groups. They are a venue for the publication of research results that are likely to provoke lively discussions among scholars who reach different moral conclusions about a given issue.