How the federal budget process works
Drafting the federal budget is one of an American president’s most influential undertakings. But two-thirds of spending is set before the process even begins. We explain.
Tip Sheets
Expert Commentary
Digital security tips for journalists: Protecting sources and yourself
Hackers are everywhere. This tip sheet offers free resources to help journalists protect their sources and themselves.
Expert Commentary
Writing about think tanks and using their research: A cautionary tip sheet
2016 tip sheet that helps journalists navigate the big-money and often partisan world of think tanks.
Expert Commentary
What is the national debt? A reporter’s guide
Depending whom you ask, America’s debt is either a national crisis or a clever way the world’s richest country takes advantage of its global economic dominance. We explain.
Expert Commentary
Free tools for visualizing economic data: Tip sheet
A growing number of research organizations are not only placing their data online, but giving users tools to help visualize it. Our tip sheet explores some of these resources.
Expert Commentary
10 things we wish we’d known earlier about research: Tips from The Journalist’s Resource
The staff of Journalist’s Resource offers advice on how to find, understand and use academic research to ground a story and fact-check claims.
Expert Commentary
Why the Fed changes interest rates: Explainer
The Federal Reserve has enormous influence over the global business cycle. This explainer helps journalists understand how it works and why it adjusts its headline interest rate.
Expert Commentary
Data journalism lesson with crime stats: Parsing close-call numbers
Tip sheet explaining a few basic statistical techniques that can help reporters and editors make decisions when there is some ambiguity — and a borderline “call” — inherent in the numbers.
Expert Commentary
Finding trade and tariff data: Tips for journalists
A host of government agencies and multilateral organizations publish trade data. They hold thousands of untold stories. Here are some places to start.
Expert Commentary
‘Digital dangers’ and online obstacles: Legal tips for journalists
It can be perilous in the digital age for journalists to offend the powerful, rich and litigious. Lawyer and Fortune staff writer Jeff John Roberts offers advice for journalists and journalism faculty.
Expert Commentary