Welcome to this guide! We use the term information cycle to describe how information is produced, disseminated, and changes over time. Understanding this process will help you realize what information is available for a research topic, when it becomes available, and why to use it.
Watch this short video on the information cycle provided by the Library of Illinois University at Urbana-Champaign.
Nowadays, you hear a news story first on social media, then on television and radio. If the event is impactful, information will appear later in several publications like newspapers or even books. This guide will help you understand:
- how the source of information changes.
- how the producers of information change.
- how the format of information changes.
We will walk you through the progression of coverage by unfolding a newsworthy event; the September 11 attacks! So, let's get started!