A special report is a customized financial report that deviates from standard reporting formats. This type of specialized report is used to address unique information needs and reporting objectives, while maintaining professional standards and clarity. For example, a company may prepare a special report to demonstrate compliance with contractual agreements or regulatory provisions that require certain sections, accounts, or items of the financial statement be presented in a different fashion than GAAP requires.
A research report is a document that presents the results of an in-depth and thorough investigation into a niche area or subject matter for an audience. The report is meant to be informative and can include various types of data, charts, graphs, and tables. It is often used by professionals in the fields of medicine, science, engineering, technology, and business to communicate their findings with other members of the scientific community or to readers outside the field. Creating a successful research report begins with understanding the target audience in order to tailor its content to its needs.
In the world of journalism, a special report is an in-depth and thorough investigation into specialized subject matter that will likely attract a large readership. The subject matter can be a scandalous story involving wrongdoing or corruption or it could be an in-depth look into a technical topic that requires a high level of understanding and expertise to tackle. Special reports are an excellent way for journalists to increase their credibility and provide valuable insight into complex subjects for their audience.