Economic news can seem dense and confusing, especially if you don’t have a business background. But you can write about this topic with ease if you know how to keep your audience’s attention and avoid jargon.
When writing about economic news, focus on the impact on real people. If you’re reporting on tariffs, for example, consider how the increased costs will affect consumers in your area and what effect they will have on small businesses or hometown jobs.
Readers also want to hear from experts on a subject, particularly those who are independent and don’t have financial stakes in the issue at hand. Providing concise and thoughtful quotes from consumer and worker advocates, government officials and business executives can add depth to your story.
You also should present multiple data sets when covering a business story, such as manufacturing indices from the US government, the European Union and China’s Caixin business news outlet. This allows readers to see the nuances in each set and make comparisons. It’s fine to note if one set has a questionable track record or if the other is considered the most authoritative source.
Finally, when you’re covering economic news, be sure to consider whether the information you’re presenting is politically motivated or part of a larger agenda. This is particularly true for economics, where a politician’s inclinations can skew the results of an interest rate decision or influence stock prices. For instance, the recent decline in yields on 10-year bonds may have reflected expectations that the Federal Reserve will ease its monetary policy soon. This would lower the risk of inflation and boost asset prices, including stocks.