Development of Published Information
The following chart shows when information about a particular event is published and how that published information changes as time passes.
| Time frame | Type of Publication | Characteristics |
| During event or within a few days | Newspapers, popular magazines, Web sites (News, personal, commercial) | Written for the general public Focus on the human interest element Shows little research, may be inaccurate |
| Within a couple of weeks, sometimes within days of the event | Mass Market paperbacks | Written for the general public Focus on the human interest element Shows little research, may be inaccurate Attempts a comprehensive view |
| Within several months or a year of the event | Professional or trade periodicals, Web sites (Organizational) | Written for the membership, interested parties Focus on informing and educating Minimal research, documentation |
| After many months or even several years of the event | Scholarly or technology periodicals Government reports Web sites (Government, educational, organizational) |
Written for specific audience More technical language More theoretical, analytical Examines a particular hypothesis Based on research, documentation Focus on a narrow aspect of topic |
| After several years of the event | Scholarly, full length books | May be written for specific audience More technical language More theoretical, analytical Examines a particular hypothesis Based on research, documentation Attempts a comprehensive view |