Journalists need to understand the big picture in order to report on any topic. When it comes to business journalism, the big picture is macroeconomics. Macroeconomics – or the study of large-scale or general economic factors – looks at how broad factors interact with each other and with local elements. In our interdependent global economy, macroeconomic news significantly influences international markets, businesses, and everyday lives.

The good news is that there is a wealth of economic data that is credible, easy to access, and often free. You don’t need to be a data scientist or pay for premium databases to find reliable datasets. Governments, global institutions, and even tech companies are publishing economic data sets more openly than ever before. But where should you begin? Here are some of the top reliable data sources that journalists should bookmark.

Even if you aren't applying for a job at a business news outlet, you need to improve your skill set to effectively cover economic issues. Every journalist should be able to write about business or economic topics with comfort and ease.  This article contains 11 tips to help you write easy-to-understand and impactful business reports.