The document discusses the information cycle, which shows how coverage of an event evolves over time from different media sources. In the minutes after an event, social media provides fragmented information from citizens and journalists. Within days, news reports provide more detailed accounts with quotes. Within weeks, magazines analyze the context. Months later, journals include expert analysis and sources. Years later, books and reference materials provide in-depth histories and established knowledge.

1. The Information Cycle
What is the Information
Cycle?
The Information Cycle:
• Is the progression of media
coverage for an event over time.
• Shows the depth of coverage for
each stage of the cycle.
• Can help you understand the
quantity and quality of information
available at a particular point in the
cycle.
Social
Media
News
Outlets
Magazines
Journals
Books
Reference
Sources

2. The Information Cycle
Minutes After the Event: Social Media
Information:
• Tends to be fragmented and very basic.
• Is furnished by a mix of citizen-journalists, "regular folk”, professional
journalists etc.
• May lack details, substantiation, and objectivity.
Examples:
Facebook, Twitter,
YouTube

3. The Information Cycle
Day/Days After the Event: News Reports
Information:
• Tends to be more detailed than earlier reports : more details about
event, people involved, outcome etc.
• May include quotes from relevant parties and officials.
• Is written by journalists.
Examples:
New York Times, CBS

4. The Information Cycle
Week/Weeks of the Event: Magazines
Information:
• Is much more in-depth, and includes analysis, context and related topics.
• May include quotes from relevant parties and officials.
Examples:
Time, Newsweek

5. The Information Cycle
Months after the Event: Scholarly and Academic Journals
Information:
• Is written by people considered to be experts in the field.
• Tends to focus on a discipline-specific aspect of the event, includes detailed
analysis, and list of sources (bibliography).
Examples:
Journal of Islamic
Studies, J.A.M.A.

6. The Information Cycle
Year/Years after the Event: Books
Information:
• Provides in-depth coverage of an event – sometimes focusing on an specific
aspect of the event, or, in contrast, providing a broad contextual overview.
• Tends to be written by specialists, researchers and other professionals. (But
not always.)
Example:
The Struggle for Egypt: From
Nasser to Tahrir Square by Steven
A. Cook

7. The Information Cycle
Year/Years after the Event: Reference Material
Information:
• Provides an overview or summary of the event.
• Tends to be written by specialists, researchers and other professionals.
• Is considered established knowledge.
• Is published in encyclopedias, dictionaries and textbooks.
Example:
Gale Virtual Reference
Library entry for “Arab
Spring”