Financial Reporting

It's tough out there. Your viewers, listeners and online users are struggling to make sense of the economy as they deal with the effects of the recession.  And they're depending on you for solid, useful information. Our  financial reporting section can help.

Check the latest suggestions below, or click to find more story ideas, coverage strategies, background and training opportunities. 

Story Idea: Tackling Financial Infidelity

Research shows that marriages are most fragile during the first few years, with 20 percent of divorces occurring within the first 5 years of marriage.

Story Idea: 'Help! I Have a Major Expense, Now What?!'

A recent poll on smartaboutmoney.org shows that putting together an emergency fund is a top priority for people, right below saving for retirement.

Story Idea: When Is it a Good Time to Refinance a Home?

If your audience members currently own a home, they've probably heard this from friends and colleagues a lot lately: "We just had to refinance. The rates have never been lower."

Story Idea: Use Financial Literacy Month to Teach Children About Money

April is financial literacy month, a fine time for parents to brush up on their money skills and also an excellent time for these parents to spend time talking about money with their children.

Story Idea: What's Your Audience's 'Financial Four?'

Your audience is gearing up for one of the best times of the year in college sports, the Final Four, when bracketology seemingly takes over the entire country!

While you'll certainly be giving the Final Four ample coverage in your newscasts and on your station's website, this might be a great time to build on that bracket excitement and help your audience figure out what their "Financial Four" are.

Story Idea: 5 Reasons Your Audience Overspends

Overspending can be defined simply - spend more than you earn.

Story Idea: Helping Your Audience Manage Money-Toxic Friends

One of the biggest reasons that your audience may overspend (without even knowing it!) is because of their friends. Yes, that's right, their friends, who may be prone to overspending and pulling your audience members into making purchases they might not have otherwise made.

Story Idea: Help Your Audience With Credit Card Debt & Student Loans

Student loans and credit card debt are two things that can weigh students and families down after graduation day. Simply, the less money borrowed during college years, the less that needs to be paid back.

Story Idea: Understand Tax Returns - Spending vs. Saving

According to a recent article from CNN, Americans are going to be a lot more tightfisted with their tax refunds this year, with more people planning to save the cash they get back from Uncle Sam instead of spending it.

Story Idea: Help Your Audience Save Money for the Future

Saving money is not always easy for your audience. They certainly know it's important to do, but the "how" is the part that often goes overlooked or ignored.

Story Idea: Food Spending - How Much is the Right Amount?

When we talk about food spending, there are the obvious consumer aspects to the story - best places to shop, coupons, wholesale purchasing, but there's a deeper element to why we all look to save at the supermarket (and beyond.)

Story Idea: Your Audience Wants to Know Where Its Money Goes!

One of the best ways that your audience can gain control of their financial situations is but understanding where all of their money goals. They can't have financial goals if they can't answer that question.

Story Idea: Help Your Audience Achieve Their 2012 Financial Resolutions

Surely, many of your audience members have made a pledge to be more responsible with money in 2012 but given the success rate of resolutions, it might be worth your time to go on air and remind your viewers and listeners about some financial best practices.

Story Idea: Help Your Audience Use Credit Responsibly

Credit can be a blessing and a burden for your audience, according to smartaboutmoney.org. Using credit wisely helps your audience build a strong credit history, which will help them secure future loans and mortgages. However, being careless with credit use can lead your audience into trouble with poor credit scores and debt.

Story Idea: 6 Ways Your Audience Can Get the Most Out of a Gym Membership

The holiday feeding frenzy has come to an end. Your audience is ready to shed some of that winter weight, and they've made a resolution to join a gym. But which gym do they join? Should they take gyms up on those introductory personal training sessions? And what’s all this small print on the contract?

Story Idea: Help Your Audience Plan & Save for What's Ahead in 2012

Every new year brings lots of changes and new expenses that can impact a budget, according to a report by smartaboutmoney.org. Many of them are surprises, but chances are your audience members already know what a few of them will be. Instead of waiting until later in the year to save for them, or throw them on a credit card, encourage your audience to plan ahead to make sure their big expenses don’t throw finances out of whack.

Tipsheet Quiz: What’s Behind Your Financial Decisions?

Have you ever wondered why you feel good about spending money on vacations, but avoid saving for retirement? Your audience might be wondering the very same thing.

Story Idea: Give Your Resolutions a Boost With a Financial Buddy

New Year’s resolutions are notoriously tough to keep, especially when they relate to your finances. But recruiting a “financial buddy” who will provide you support and keep you accountable can help you accomplish your goals this year, according to a report by smartaboutmoney.org. 

Story Idea: Reduce the Hidden Costs of Holiday Travel

It’s Dec. 23. Officially travel time for the holidays. You’ll soon be loading the car or catching a flight to visit your family and friends. But the trip and your holiday shopping list may leave your wallet feeling the wintertime blues. Fortunately, there are a number of ways you can trim costs en route to your holiday destination, according to an article on spendster.org

Story Idea: Avoid Holiday Shopping Hangovers

If your audience has a tendency to overspend for holidays, better planning can keep costs under control, according to a report by smartaboutmoney.org. They may benefit from several of the tips outlined in the report, which would work well in a reporter package or web story:

Story Idea: 'I'm Worried I Might Be Laid Off...'

Rarely do companies let their employees know when layoffs will occur. Still, sometimes there are hints, according to a report by smartaboutmoney.org.

Story Idea: 'Tis the Season...For Spending

A new poll from the National Endowment for Financial Education finds many Americans have concern over how they will pay for their holiday expenses in this “bah humbug” economy. 

Story Idea: What's the Deal With Holiday Layaway?

According to a report by the website smartaboutmoney.com, buying on layaway, that thrifty practice your parents and grandparents knew so well, still has a pulse in the marketplace. And as the holiday shopping season draws near, shoppers of all income levels are considering the option.

Story Idea: Make Educated Charitable Donations

As the holiday season approaches, your audience will be receiving appeals for charitable donations in their inbox, mailbox, and voicemail. If they are in a position to give, help them not just throw out money to whatever causes tug at their heartstrings; encourage them to do their homework, determine their giving budgets, and put a strategy in place, according to smartaboutmoney.org.

Story Idea: Do You Really Need That New Flat Screen?

Purchasing a “big ticket” item, particularly around the holidays, takes research and patience. For some families, “big ticket” might mean anything more than $100; for other individuals, $10,000 might signify their limit. In all cases, planning and saving for the purchase is important, according to a report by smartaboutmoney.org.

Story Idea: 8 Things You Should Shred Right Now

According to financial services consulting firm Javelin Strategies and Research, identity theft affects 11 million people a year, at a cost of $54 billion, according to a report by thestreet.com.

Story Idea: How to Break a Bad Spending Habit

According to an article on spendster.org, bad habits like smoking aren’t just bad for your health; they also can be bad for your wallet. If a pack of cigarettes costs on average $6 and you smoke a pack a day, you’re racking up an extra $180 a month! 

Story Idea: How Financial Troubles Can Help Relationships

According to a report by creditcards.com,  sometimes it takes an extreme situation to bring people together -- an illness, accident or even an act of terrorism. But what about a financial crisis?  

Story Idea: Tricks for a Thrifty Halloween

Boo! Did your credit card bill sneak up and scare you after Halloween last year? Between costumes, decorations, candy, and parties…Halloween can get expensive, according to a report by spendster.org

Click on the Banner to View Links & Resources from Tuesday's Session!

Story Idea: How Your Retirement Paycheck Works

A retirement paycheck is a practical way for your audience members to think about how theywill pay themselves during their retirement years. Understanding exactly how that paycheck works can go a long way in securing a comfortable retirement, according to myretirementpaycheck.org.   

Story Idea: You Thought College Was Expensive? What About Senior Year of HS?

Senior year of high school will likely be filled with memorable moments that will define the last year in high school, and perhaps living at home for many students in your audience.

Story Idea: What's The 'American Dream?'

People often have varying interpretations when it comes to the "American Dream." 

Story Idea: Financial Preparation for a Hurricane

With virtually the entire East Coast preparing for Hurricane Irene to hit this weekend, it may be useful to include information about financial preparedness as well in news coverage.

Story Idea: Back-to-School Financial Basics

Whether a child is taking his or her first steps into the kindergarten classroom or moving out on his or her own to start college, back-to-school time is a big deal—for your audiences' families and their wallets. 

How To: Make Sense of and Report on Market Volatility

This week the financial world has been marred by wild price swings, feverish selling and buying and a general sense of nervousness about what may be next for the market.

Some questions people have been asking are: "What's going to happen to my 401k?" "What should I be doing with my money?" "How much does volatility affect my retirement?" "Should I move my money or stay put?" "Is NOW the time to invest?" "What safe investments are there?"

Similarly, newsrooms and reporters are dealing with difficult questions as speculation continues to swirl about another financial crisis on the horizon...

Click here to read the rest of the article

Story Idea: How Not To Blow Your Budget On Vacation

Whether you’re planning a vacation in Paris or a skydive in the States this summer, an article by learnvest.com suggests you not count pennies while strolling the Seine or think about your savings account as you plummet toward Earth.
 

Story Idea: 7 Ways to Split Expenses with a Partner Who Makes More

According to a report on getcurrency.com, "in a relationship, one partner is probably going to make more money than the other. Depending on the financial gap, the person with the smaller paycheck can sometimes feel inadequate (whether it’s justified or not), and the insecurity of earning less may cause problems."

Story Idea: Furnish Your First Place, Frugally!

According to an article on spendster.org, August is prime moving season. Whether it is your audience's first dorm room, first apartment, or very first house there are ways to furnish without going over budget. 

Story Idea: Weddings Can Be Pricey For More Than Just The Happy Couple

In tough economic times, or just busy wedding seasons, many people weigh the costs of attending weddings carefully, especially when faced with multiple invitations and limited cash. Smartmoney.org has a series of tips for making wedding attendance a celebratory, and affordable, occasion. 

Journalists, We Want You To Be a Part of Our 'Money Matters' Session in New Orleans!

RTDNA is currently looking for journalists (news directors, reporters, freelancers, editors, you name it) who have experience with financial reporting and are willing to sit on our "Money Matters" panel at the Excellence in Journalism 2011 Conference in New Orleans from September 25-27th.

Our session will focus on the best practices of economics and personal finance reporting and reveal ways to best make difficult financial topics easily digestible for all audiences.

If you are interested in participating on this panel, please email Ryan Murphy at ryanm@rtdna.org.

Story Idea: Don't Go Broke Playing Host This Holiday Weekend

Summer brings longer days, warmer nights, and guests that are eager to cut loose and mingle. But hosting a summer party can be risky if you’ve committed to living on a budget, but are known for throwing a swanky soirée, according to a report by mint.com.

Story Idea: 8 Most Awkward Money Situations

Money is perhaps the only conversation piece that can create more awkwardness than a chat about sex, politics and religion combined.  Go ahead, ask someone you know (or perhaps hardly know) how much money they make the next time you are out to dinner with them and gauge the response.

Story Idea: Are Your Kids Putting Your Retirement at Risk?

As reported by Catey Hill of smartmoney.com, 59 percent of parents financially support their adult children (ages 18 to 39) who aren’t in college, according to a new study by the National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE). 

Story Idea: Retire With $1 Million

People often question what the right retirement "magic number" for them is - the dollar amount at which they can stop working and live a lifestyle comparable to what they enjoyed during their working years.

Story Idea: Protect Your Privacy On Summer Vacation

For thousands of families across America, summer vacation is right around the corner. And thieves know it, the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse reports. As reported by PRC, according to the FBI, crime rates rise about 10 percent during summer months. 

Story Idea: Fill Up Your Gas Tank on the Cheap This Weekend

Well, perhaps the portion of the headline above that reads "on the cheap" is not entirely accurate. With gas prices around the country close to $4 per gallon, not many people would consider filling up the gas tank this Memorial Day weekend a cheap proposition. 

Story Idea: Critical Money Questions to Ask Before Getting Married

Spring is now in full swing and with better weather comes the heart of wedding season, when hopeful brides and grooms will wish for wedding days marked by abundant sunshine and the promise of a happy life in love.

Story Idea: Putting Graduation Money to Good Use

For most teens, the surge of cash they receive to commemorate their graduation achievement will be the largest amount of money they’ve ever had to manage. But that diploma doesn’t necessarily mean they have the answers to pass one of life's financial tests.

Story Idea: Mom Matters Most in Shaping Financial Habits

With Mother's Day approaching, it's likely a good idea to let mom know that throughout all the years, she's always known best. According to a poll by CreditCards.com, it appears that when it comes to finances, she really has!

Tipsheet: Robbing Your Own Retirement?

A survey released by Bankrate on Monday shows that nearly one-fifth of full-time workers have dipped into their retirement accounts to cover a financial emergency in the past 12 months. 

Tipsheet: Local Students Step Up to Financial Challenge

 Just how much do local high school students know about managing money? How much do students in your area know about financial responsibility?

Tipsheet: Saving or Splurging Tax Refunds?

Taxpayers are receiving average refunds of over $3,000 a piece this year, and most are planning to save those dollars rather than paying down debt, according to a report by CNN Money.

Tipsheet: Saving for College

Saving for college may be on your audiences' radar, but what about when the market drops by a large percentage, as it did in 2008? How do your audience members continuing saving for college then? And with that, what investment vehicle, if any, are they using to save?

Tipsheet: 30 Last-Minute Tax Tips

There's some good news when it comes to taxes this year. Since April 15 lands on a special Washington D.C. holiday, taxes aren't due until Monday, April 18. If your audience members are filing for a 6-month extension the deadline is October 17.

Tipsheet: Japan Earthquake Economic Impact

In the wake of a massive 8.9 magnitude earthquake, the largest felt by Japan since record keeping began some 140 years ago, impact on the market is expected to be limited, according to a Japanese market strategist, as reported by advisorone.com.

Story ideas: Consumer spending

Surveys say Americans are feeling more confident about the future. Does that mean they're ready to open their wallets again? Maybe. But maybe not.

Story Idea: Gas Prices

How much did you pay for gas this week? And the week before that? On March 8, 2011, gas prices rose for the 14th consecutive day making the national average $3.517 and leaving some motorists paying over $3.90 a gallon. A looming question among economists, journalists and news audiences is "how high will the prices go?"

Story ideas: Rebound indicators

Economists say the recession ended 20 months ago, technically speaking, but it doesn't feel that way to many Americans. Where are the signs of recovery? Check our list of "rebound" story ideas.

Story ideas: Food prices

After holding the line during most of the recession, food prices are on their way up again. Where can you look for the impact of higher commodity costs in your community?

Story ideas: Weather fallout

As another winter storm moves across the country, there's no time like the present to look into some weather-related business stories.

Story ideas: Book business

Amazon's announcement that it now sells more e-books than paperbacks makes this a good time to check in on the book business as a whole. We've pulled together some story ideas and background to get you started.

Story ideas: Coupon deals

Now that Google has announced plans to get into the online discount coupon game, it may be a good time to investigate how that game is being played in your community.

Story ideas: Tourism rebounds

Tourism took a nosedive during the recession but it bounced back big time last year, according to recent reports, and the outlook for 2011 is positive. That's good news for tourist destinations and travel-related businesses.

Story ideas: Bigger paychecks

The first paychecks of the New Year should be a little bigger for most workers than they were a year ago. Where's the money coming from and what will people do with it?