Strategy: Consider Types of InformationInformation may be delivered in a variety of formats: books, articles, pamphlets, reports, social media and more. Understanding format categories, characteristics, and production cycles will help you to choose the best source for your needs.
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Categorizing Sources
Information types differ in many ways, including:
- Tone & Formality casual or specialized language
- Purpose persuade, inform, sell, entertain
- Form & Distribution book, article, tweet, print, digital, fee based, free
- Authorship & Editorial Process self published, editorial review, peer review
- Audience popular, professional, scholarly
Source Examples & Typical Characteristics
Popular Magazines
| Tone: | Casual and accessible |
| Purpose: | Inform, entertain |
| Form: | Attractive, digital, print |
| Authors: | Staff writers or journalists |
| Review: | Approval by editor |
| Audience: | Broad general audience |
| Content: | News, opinion, short articles |
Academic Books
| Tone: | Formal, may be specialized |
| Purpose: | Inform |
| Form: | Digital, print |
| Authors: | Scholars or specialists |
| Review: | Approval by editor |
| Audience: | Academic |
| Content: | Background, overview, analysis |
Academic Journals
| Tone: | Formal and specialized |
| Purpose: | Inform, argue |
| Form: | Digital or print |
| Authors: | Scholars |
| Review: | Peer review |
| Audience: | Academic |
| Content: | Research, analysis, 10+pages |
Trade Magazines
| Tone: | Understandable within profession |
| Purpose: | Inform |
| Form: | Digital or print |
| Authors: | Staff writers or specialists |
| Review: | Editor; professional associations |
| Audience: | Targeted practitioners |
| Content: | Reviews, trends, case studies |
Government information
| Tone: | Formal |
| Purpose: | News, Inform |
| Form: | Digital or print |
| Authors: | Varies |
| Review: | Approval by editor |
| Audience: | Politicians, citizens |
| Content: | Policy, analysis, legislation |
Newspapers
| Tone: | Casual and accessible |
| Purpose: | Inform, entertain |
| Form: | Digital, print |
| Authors: | Staff writers or journalists |
| Review: | Approval by editor |
| Audience: | Broad general audience |
| Content: | Current, brief, news, events |
Consider the Information LifeCycle
The information life cycle describes the circulation of information and media coverage following a newsworthy event. Considering the time needed to create and distribute information formats can help you determine what information you are likely to find about your topic.
See the example timeline of coverage of the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri.
The Day of an Event: Social Media
The Day After an Event: News papers and media
The Week or Weeks After an Event: Weekly Popular Magazines and New Magazines
Six Months to a Year or More After an Event: Academic, Scholarly Journals
Learn more about scholarly literature
A Year to Years After an Event: Scholarly Books
A Year to Years After an Event: Government Reports
Mountains by Alice Noir from the Noun Project