Betting on box office: LA Times defines movie derivatives well
The Los Angeles Times used a graphic to explain how a box-office futures exchange would work.
The Los Angeles Times gives readers a good primer on how exchanges are set up with its story about two companies creating box-office futures exchanges “that would allow Hollywood studios and others to hedge against the box-office performance of movies.”
The story includes a basic graphic illustrating how the system would work. Writers Nathaniel Popper and Ben Fritz also offer similes such as “similar to the way farmers swap corn or wheat futures to protect themselves from crop failures” to help readers grasp the concept.
Today’s Tip: Use similes and anecdotes, as well as graphics, to help readers understand complex topics.
For help in defining terms for readers, check out the New York Times’ financial glossary, which has more than 2,500 entries. The Washington Post’s glossary says it has more than 1,250 terms.
If you prefer using books, try “Wall Street Words: An A-to-Z Guide to Investment Terms for Today’s Investor” and “The American Heritage Dictionary of Business Terms,” both by David L. Scott.
