Event

When an event occurs, the cycle of information is somewhat different.

Suppose you were on I-264 headed toward Virginia Beach when an airplane crashes nearby. You take a picture of the chaos with your cell phone and post it to Twitter and Facebook.

Would your description be considered primary or secondary?
Objective or subjective?

A TV reporter is on the scene reporting what she sees.

Primary or secondary?
Objective or subjective?

The information cycle has begun. Where are you likely to hear more about the crash very soon?

Blogs, Facebook, Twitter
Internet news
Radio
Television
Newspaper

How far the information cycle goes depends on:

who crashed (president, celebrity, nobody)
what crashed (747 on I64 at rush hour or private small plane)
why it crashed (terrorism or engine failure)

If the event was not significant outside the local area, perhaps the cycle would end here.

Think about it ...

Is there another information type that might include this information later, even if it wasn't significant?

Think about it ...

If the crash were of a major jetliner and 100 people were killed and/or the incident were related to terrorist activities, the cycle would likely continue. What types of sources would talk about it?

Here is a graphic of the information cycle for a newsworthy event.

« Previous | Next »