A basic needs assessment is just thinking about and talking to members of your prospective audience to see what formats and mediums would be most appreciated.

Step 1. If possible, talk directly to real people. 

Your goal is to learn about how different members of your audience consume and use information.

Step 2. Do your homework before chatting. 

Come up with scenarios that describe how a specific person discovers your work.  Were they emailed a report directly, did they attend a meeting where the work was presented, did they find it on social media shared by a colleague, etc.? During your chat, see if your assumptions hold up.

Step 3. If the goal is actual use, learn when and how the person would use it. 

How does the product fit into their everyday work flow?  Are they planning on incorporating your findings into their own presentations?  Do they need something they could download, or just a link they could bookmark?

Step 4. What are their preferred formats? 

Do they like big long boring reports (some people actually do) or do they prefer short visual executive summaries?  Would they access it on a phone, or only on their computer?

Step 5. Try to talk to a handful of people if possible. 

Approach it as a conversation, take notes or record your Zoom.  Let the conversations inform your product decisions, not decide them for you.