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Business and Financial Journalism

£5800.00£5200.00

Introduction

This course introduces participants to the principles, methods, and professional practices of business and financial journalism. It focuses on reporting and analysing companies, financial markets, industries, economic developments, government policies, and broader economic trends.

Participants will develop practical skills in financial research, company analysis, market reporting, interpreting financial statements, understanding economic indicators, interviewing business leaders and experts, analysing data, and explaining complex financial issues to general audiences. The course also addresses accuracy, conflicts of interest, financial ethics, market-sensitive information, and responsible reporting.

 

Course Content

Foundations of Business and Financial Journalism

  1. Understanding business and financial journalism

  2. The role of business journalists

  3. Identifying newsworthy business stories

  4. Understanding companies, industries and markets

  5. Types of business and financial reporting

  6. Corporate and economic news

  7. Understanding financial terminology

  8. Identifying reliable business sources

  9. Researching companies and organisations

  10. Accuracy, independence and conflicts of interest

Company and Corporate Reporting

  1. Understanding corporate structures

  2. Researching companies and executives

  3. Reading company reports and announcements

  4. Annual reports and financial statements

  5. Revenue, costs, profit and loss

  6. Assets, liabilities and cash flow

  7. Corporate strategy and performance

  8. Mergers, acquisitions and restructuring

  9. Corporate governance

  10. Executive compensation

  11. Corporate scandals and controversies

  12. Investigating corporate claims

Financial Markets and Investment Reporting

  1. Understanding financial markets

  2. Stock markets and share prices

  3. Bonds and interest rates

  4. Foreign exchange markets

  5. Commodities and energy markets

  6. Market indicators and indices

  7. Understanding market movements

  8. Interpreting company valuations

  9. Investor and analyst perspectives

  10. Reporting market volatility

  11. Understanding risk and uncertainty

  12. Avoiding misleading financial reporting

Economics and Public Policy

  1. Understanding major economic indicators

  2. Inflation and cost of living

  3. Interest rates and monetary policy

  4. Employment and unemployment

  5. Economic growth and GDP

  6. Government spending and taxation

  7. Public debt and government borrowing

  8. Trade and international economics

  9. Economic inequality

  10. Business regulation

  11. Government economic policies

  12. Explaining economic developments to general audiences

Data, Research and Investigative Business Journalism

  1. Finding and evaluating business data

  2. Using company databases and public records

  3. Analysing financial data

  4. Comparing companies and industries

  5. Identifying trends and anomalies

  6. Following money and financial transactions

  7. Investigating corporate ownership

  8. Identifying conflicts of interest

  9. Researching corporate networks

  10. Investigating fraud and financial misconduct

  11. Fact-checking financial claims

  12. Using spreadsheets and basic data-analysis techniques

  13. Presenting financial information through charts and graphics

Interviewing and Writing Business Stories

  1. Interviewing business leaders and executives

  2. Interviewing economists and financial experts

  3. Interviewing investors and analysts

  4. Developing effective questions

  5. Challenging corporate statements

  6. Writing financial news reports

  7. Writing company profiles

  8. Writing market analysis

  9. Explaining complex financial concepts clearly

  10. Using data and quotations effectively

  11. Writing headlines and leads

  12. Reporting uncertainty and forecasts

  13. Digital and multimedia business journalism

  14. Producing business stories for different audiences

Practical Final Project

Participants develop a complete business or financial journalism story based on a real or simulated company, market, industry, or economic issue.

The project should include:

  • Story idea and angle

  • Background research

  • Company or economic data

  • Relevant documents

  • Interviews or expert sources

  • Financial/economic analysis

  • Supporting evidence

  • News article or feature

  • Relevant charts or visualisations

  • Sources and references

Participants present their stories and receive feedback on accuracy, financial analysis, research quality, source selection, clarity, news judgement and journalistic ethics.

Methodology

The course uses a practical and analytical approach.

Short lectures

Introduction to business, finance, economics, financial terminology and journalistic principles.

Case studies

Analysis of major corporate stories, market events, economic developments and financial scandals.

Financial document exercises

Participants work with annual reports, financial statements, company announcements and economic reports.

Data analysis exercises

Participants analyse financial and economic data to identify trends, patterns and potential stories.

Interview simulations

Participants practise interviewing executives, economists, analysts and other business sources.

Investigative exercises

Participants research companies, corporate ownership, financial relationships and potential conflicts of interest.

Writing workshops

Participants produce business news reports, company profiles and analytical stories.

Peer review

Participants assess each other's work, focusing on accuracy, evidence, clarity and journalistic judgement.

Final project

Participants produce a publication-ready business or financial journalism story.

 

Target Audience

The course is suitable for:

  • Early-career journalists

  • Business journalists

  • Financial journalists

  • Economic reporters

  • Investigative journalists

  • Editors and news producers

  • Digital journalists

  • Freelance journalists

  • Media and communications professionals

  • Researchers

  • Communications professionals working in business and finance

  • Journalism students

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, participants should be able to:

  1. Explain the principles and role of business and financial journalism.

  2. Identify newsworthy business, financial and economic stories.

  3. Research companies, industries and markets effectively.

  4. Understand and interpret basic financial statements.

  5. Explain key financial and economic indicators.

  6. Analyse company and market performance.

  7. Research corporate ownership and governance.

  8. Use financial and economic data to develop news stories.

  9. Conduct effective interviews with business leaders and experts.

  10. Investigate corporate claims and financial controversies.

  11. Identify potential conflicts of interest and ethical issues.

  12. Write clear and accurate business and financial news stories.

  13. Explain complex economic and financial issues to non-specialist audiences.

  14. Use data, charts and visualisations to communicate financial information.

  15. Produce a well-researched business or financial journalism story suitable for publication.

Language(s): English and Arabic 

Duration: One Week

Certificate of Completion: Upon successful completion of the programme, participants will receive a Certificate of Completion.