The Information Cycle (text only)
The Day of an Event
Television, Social Media, and the Web
- The who, what, why, and where of the event
- Quick, not detailed, regularly updated
- Authors are journalists, bloggers, social media participants
- Intended for general audiences
The Day After an Event
Newspapers
- Explanations and timelines of the event begin to appear
- More factual information, may include statistics, quotes, photographs, and editorial coverage
- Authors are journalists
- Intended for general audiences
The Week or Weeks After an Event
Weekly Popular Magazines and News Magazines
- Long form stories begin to discuss the impact on society, culture, and public policy
- More detailed analyses, interviews, and various perspectives emerge
- Authors range from journalists to essayists, and commentary provided by scholars and experts in the field
- Intended for a general audience or specific nonprofessional groups
Six Months to a Year or More After an Event
Academic, Scholarly Journals
- Focused, detailed analysis and theoretical, empirical research
- Peer-reviewed, ensuring high credibility and accuracy
- Authors include scholars, researchers, and professionals
- Intended for an audience of scholars, researchers, and university students
A Year to Years After an Event
Books
- In-depth coverage ranging from scholarly in-depth analysis to popular books
- Authors range from scholars to professionals to journalists
- Include reference books which provide factual information, overviews, and summaries
Government Reports
- Reports from federal, state, and local governments
- Authors include governmental panels, organizations, and committees
- Often focused on public policy, legislation, and statistical analysis
