Bulletins and reports

Bulletins and reports are written accounts of observed or documented events usually made by a person of authority who has witnessed an event, thus bulletins and reports build records of what had transpired. In general, bulletins, though official, are brief and informal statements, while reports are lengthier and more formal. Both are also known by the name "reportage."

Law reports

Amongst the most formal written accounts are law reports. A law report is the written or printed account of a case which has been judicially determined. Such an account, in the most complete and accurate reports, is usually composed of a brief statement of the facts of the case prepared by the reporter. The opinion of the court frequently contains a statement of the facts, a statement of the court's decision of the case, and the reasoning and the authorities upon which the decision is based. The report of the case may also include dissenting opinions. The value and use of precedents in the English common law make the careful preparation and preservation of reports of decided cases of the highest importance.

Bulletins

Often, the use of bulletins as the means of establishing records is practiced by an employee of the government who has investigated an event, attended an event, etc. Such an employee is expected to or required to construct bulletins as a normal part of his occupation.

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