A special report is a detailed summary of findings and results based on systematic investigations. It is usually written in a formal language and should present first-hand verifiable information. It may also include graphs to add visual representations of the data. It is important to keep in mind the audience for whom the research report is intended when writing it, as this will determine the tone and vocabulary used. For example, a researcher writing for a general audience would want to make the report more understandable and relatable while a researcher writing for a specialized field might need to use more technical and field-specific terms.
In the news media, a special report is an in-depth report on a specific topic. It may focus on a breaking news story or feature a more in-depth investigation of an ongoing event. Special reports often air during regular scheduled programming and typically utilize a ticker to display the latest updates on the story as they occur. They may also suspend regular commercial advertising for extended coverage.
The Hastings Center publishes special reports to provide venues for the results of its research projects on topical bioethical issues. These reports can include single-authored essays by members of project working groups or lively discussions among researchers who reached different moral conclusions about a project’s central questions. In addition, the Center sometimes publishes essay sets organized around important bioethical developments in the news. These are called Special Reports to the Hastings Center Report.