A special report is a financial report that deviates from the standard format of Generally Accepted Auditing Standards. These unique reports address specific information needs while maintaining professional standards and clarity. Examples of this type of reporting include cash receipts/disbursements and tax basis financial statements.
A research report is a written account of your systematic investigation and highlights its significance for the existing body of knowledge in your field of study. It should also outline any gaps in research that your investigation sought to fill. Research reports can be quantitative or qualitative, depending on the nature of your research and its intended audience.
For example, a research report on a topical issue would be prepared for a general audience while a technical one might be prepared for a specific specialized audience. Quantitative research works with numbers while qualitative research is based on observations.
Similarly, news organizations can produce a special report on a particular subject to draw attention to it for their readers. Often these articles are investigative in nature and could expose wrongdoing or corruption.
For example, Fox News has a weekly program called Special Report with Bret Baier that features in-depth coverage of important political stories from the nation’s capital. The show first aired in 1996 and was originally hosted by Brit Hume, but he retired in December 2008. The program is usually broadcast from the network’s studio in Capitol Hill, though sometimes it will be produced in New York City on major breaking political news events.