/ Information Cycle Handout

The Information Cycle is the progression of media coverage of a particular newsworthy event. Knowing about the information cycle shows you how or why the information was written/created/published, where it came from, and how it’s changed over time. It will also help you to better know what information is available on your topic and better evaluate information sources covering that topic.

  • Information is written for differentpurposes- to inform, to persuade, to instruct,to entertain, etc.What is the purpose of your research paper?
  • Information is written for different types ofaudiences- general, popular, juvenile, scholarly, professional.
  • Information is presented in differentformats.

The Progression of the Information Cycle

Many thanks to University Library at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Temple University Libraries for the design & information of this guide.

The Information Cycle is the progression of information created about a particular event.What makes a scholarly article different from a book different from a newspaper article different from a magazine article?A big answer to that question istiming. Different types of material take different amounts of time to produce. And each type of material has its own characteristics and caveats. Understanding The Information Cycle will help you to better know what materials are available about an event or topic.
To demonstrate The Information Cycle, let's examineJapan’s March 2011 tsunami:

The Information Cycle on the Day of...

Social Media, Television, Internet, and Radio

Moments before, during and immediately after the March 11, 2011 tsunami in Japan, witnesses Twittered, Facebooked and sent photos of the devastation around the world. Television, Internet and radio media also reported the event.
Characteristics:
  • Can provide the most up-to-date information.
  • Explains the general details of an event.
  • Easy to understand.
  • Many formats, not just traditional articles - includes tweets, blogs, and Facebook posts.
/
  • Caveats:
  • Occasionally inaccurate.
  • Primarily written by journalists (non experts).
  • Little analysis or insight.
  • Intended for a general audience, not for scholarly research.
/ Where to Find:
  • Social media
  • Google
  • Google News
  • Google Blogs
/ Example:
Mar 11, 2011 – 8:41 AM ET|
The biggest earthquake to hit Japan in 140 years struck the northeast coast on Friday, triggering a 10-metre tsunami that swept away everything in its path.

The Information Cycle during the Week of...

Newspapers

The week the tsunami hit Japan, newspaper articles began describing the early details of all aspects of the disaster.
Characteristics:
  • Longer, more detailed, and factual than immediate news sources.
  • Include quotes from experts.
  • Frequently include statistics or photographs.
  • Can provide a local or editorial perspective.
  • Provide some analysis and insight into the "why" of events.
/ Caveats:
  • Primarily written by journalists (non experts).
  • Intended for a general audience.
/ Where to Find:
  • Newsstand
  • EBSCOHost’s Academic Search Elite
  • Google News
/ Example:

The Information Cycle during the Week after...

Popular Magazines

As all of the facts of Barack Obama's election were gathered, more detailed analysis began to be created. Popular and news magazines began to produce long form stories that discussed the impact of the event on society, culture, and public policy.
Characteristics:
  • Include detailed reports of events, interviews, as well as opinions and analysis.
  • Offer perspectives on an event from particular groups or geared towards specific audiences.
  • Are written by a range of authors, from professional journalists, to essayists, to commentary by scholars or experts in the field.
/ Caveats:
  • While often factual, information can reflect the editorial bias of a publication.
  • Are intended for a general audience or specific nonprofessional groups.
/ Where to Find:
  • Popular magazines
  • Academic Search Elite
  • TOPICsearch
/ Example:

The Information Cycle Months After...

Academic/Scholarly Journals

Months after Barack Obama's election, long, detailed articles describing the election's effect on all aspects of life began to be published. These articles were backed by the research, analysis, and the expert knowledge of professionals in their related fields.
Characteristics:
  • Include detailed analysis, empirical research reports, and learned commentary related to the event.
  • Are often theoretical, carefully analyzing the impact of the event on society, culture, and public policy.
  • Are peer-reviewed. This editorial process ensures high credibility and accuracy.
  • Include detailed bibliographies.
  • Authored by experts.
/
  • Caveats:
  • Typically very specific in topic.
  • Written in a highly technical language.
  • Are intended for other scholars and can be difficult to understand.
  • Are not quickly available after events take place.
/ Where to Find:
  • Academic Search Elite
  • Many of the library's other databases.
  • Summon
  • Google Scholar
/ Example:

The Information Cycle A Year After...

Books

About a year after Barack Obama's election, books analyzing the impact of his election began to be published.

Characteristics:
  • Provide in-depth coverage of an event, often expanding analysis from earlier academic research.
  • Often place an event into historical context.
  • Can provide detailed overviews of an event.
  • Can provide other relevant sources through bibliographies.
/ Caveats:
  • Range from scholarly in-depth analyses of topics to popular books which provide general discussions and are not as well-researched.
  • Might have a bias or slant.
  • Credentials of authors can vary.
  • Are not quickly available after events take place.
/ Where to Find:
  • Library Catalog
  • WorldCat
  • e-Book Collection
/ Example:

The Information Cycle Years After...

Reference Books

Years after Japan’s 2011 tsunami, the event was well-known and encyclopedias, handbooks, and other reference sources published entries on the subject.
Characteristics:
  • Considered established knowledge.
  • Include factual information, often in the form of broad overviews and summaries of an event.
  • May include statistics and bibliographies.
  • Authored by scholars and specialists.
/ Caveats:
  • Frequently not as detailed as books or journal articles.
  • Often intended for a more general audience, but may be of use to researchers, scholars, and professionals.
/ Where to Find:
  • Credo Reference
  • Environmental Studies and Policy Collection
  • Library's Reference section
/ Example:

Many thanks to University Library at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and

Temple University Libraries for the design and much of theinformationin this guide.

Last updated 3/2012