Sources of Information

Where information comes from and why it matters:

Information comes from a dizzying array of sources.

Civic Sources:

• governments
• non-profit organizations
• special interest groups
• news media

PURPOSE: produce and distribute information useful for citizens to make informed decisions and play an active role in society. 

Commercial Sources:

• corporations
• small businesses
• special interest groups
• motion picture studios
• news media

Purpose: produce and distribute information recommending various products and services in the form of advertisements, PR campaigns, product placement and other materials.

Entertainment Sources:

• media corporations
• independent artists
• small businesses
• news media

Purpose: distribute information that is intended to entertain.

Scholarly Sources:

• universities
• scholarly presses
• professional organizations
• professors
• independent scholars

Purpose: produce and disseminate information intended to educate and advance human progress and understanding. Such information is particularly relevant for college students.

Note: Most scholarly works must undergo a rigorous review process before they are published, to ensure that data collection methods are untainted and arguments are valid. This means that experts in the field serve as gatekeepers. Most of the time the process by which they filter works, called peer review (or refereeing), results in a body of quality scholarly information.

Each information source may produce several different types of information.

For this reason, whenever you encounter information, it is important to consider your own relationship to that information.

Scenarios

• If you are a citizen who wishes to exercise your rights, then information of a civic nature will be important.
• When consulting information of a commercial nature, consider your position as a consumer, a business person hoping to build a customer base, or both.
• Also, consider whether the information you're receiving has come to you first hand or has been interpreted by a third party.

No matter what type of information you encounter, in order to help you evaluate it judiciously, consider how the information provider hopes you will respond.

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