Financial reporting on the internet and orientations associated with future

Rapid developments of information technology quickly change the method of offering financial information to the stakeholders of companies, potential investors and other related persons. Until near future, financial reports that are offered as printed have begun to be offered on the internet nowadays. The use of Internet for financial reporting creates incomparable opportunities and facilities to companies and users. Financial Reporting on the Internet has important benefits such as low cost, speed, reaching larger areas, flexibility, etc. However, it brought some issues in its train. This paper addresses the changing environment in wihich external audit is conducted resulting from the use of internet of financial reporting. In this paper, a research has been done to define orientations associated with future and in order to display our country?s current situation of financial reporting on the internet. For current situation, the content analysis of financial informations published on the their web sites of listed companies in Istanbul Stock Exchange were made. A questionnaire has been conducted with academics, auditors, financial analysts, and companies in order to determine orientations associated with future. A five-point Likert scale was used in questionnaire. The study of questionnaire was made on the internet by using questionnaire software. Key Words: Internet, financial reporting, financial disclosures, internet based reporting, orientations.