Knowing how and when different types of information are produced can be important for your research process. Some information is produced immediately after an event, while other types are produced later. The time can affect the content and quality of the information. For more information, try this interactive information lifecycle tutorial.
Information Timeline
| Within minutes | Social Media: "Breaks" the story with the most immediate information. Information may be incomplete, false, or biased. Examples: Instagram, Facebook, X, TikTok, YouTube |
| Within days | TV, Radio, and News Outlets: While still produced quickly, information from these sources is more thorough and verified than social media. Often includes opinions and can be biased or sensationalized. Examples: CNN, Fox News, BBC Radio, New York Times. |
| Within a month | Popular and Non-Scholarly Magazines: Information takes more time to write and edit, but is written for a popular audience. May include contextual information, interviews, related topics, illustrations and advertisements, and opinions. Examples: The New Yorker, Scientific American, People, National Geographic. |
| 3+ months later | Scholarly Journals: Written by experts, well-researched, and often peer-reviewed. Takes more time to research and produce. Examples: Journal of American Culture, Nature, JAMA. |
| 12+ months later | Books: Gives the most in-depth coverage a topic, and takes the most time to produce. Often cover a topic from a perspective of hindsight. Examples: Nonfiction titles, biographies, textbooks, reference materials. |
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