Business news is coverage of the economic issues and opportunities that affect the everyday lives of a publication’s audience. It encompasses everything from corporate mergers and acquisitions to quarterly earnings reports, leadership changes, and the release of new products. Keeping up with business news is crucial to the success of any news organization. Creating compelling business news articles requires consistently monitoring fresh developments across industries, identifying stories with wide appeal, and structuring the article clearly.
When reporting business news, be sure to include the people behind the numbers. Focusing on the human element makes an otherwise dry subject more interesting for readers. It also helps readers connect to the story and understand its significance. For example, instead of merely stating that a particular company’s profit rose or fell, write about how the increase or decrease affected the stock price.
Similarly, use quotes from experts to give readers insight into the significance of a particular statistic or data set. For instance, if two different data sets on manufacturing output are released by competing news outlets (one from the Chinese government and one from an independent business news outlet called Caixin), note that some economists have expressed skepticism of official government numbers and suggest a comparison of the results.
Finally, avoid introducing your own opinion into business news articles. This is especially important when it comes to figures and statistics. Many business and financial news consumers are highly analytical and notice any inconsistencies or miscalculations. For example, avoid mixing up millions and billions, and make sure you don’t confuse percentage increases and decreases or mispronounce someone’s name.