The information cycle is the progression of media coverage of a newsworthy event. Understanding the information cycle can help you determine what kind of information you are likely to find about your topic. The following infographic illustrates the Information Cycle. You can also view a text version of the Information Cycle below.
Credit: University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
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
