Postinformation

Postinformation is a term used in information studies to describe information that arises after the initial publication or release of a data item, document, or observation. It comprises updates, corrections, contextual commentary, annotations, and derivative content produced subsequent to the original item. The concept emphasizes that information ecosystems are dynamic, with meaning and validity often evolving over time.

Usage of the term is not standardized across disciplines. In journalism, postinformation can refer to corrections or clarifications issued after a story is published. In data management and scholarly publishing, it may denote versioned updates, errata, addenda, or the publication of supplementary materials. In digital humanities and social information systems, it can include user-generated annotations and discussions that accompany a primary artifact.

Key characteristics of postinformation include its linkage to the original item, versioning or timestamping, and an explicit provenance trail. It can improve accuracy and contextual depth but may also introduce challenges such as information overload, version fragmentation, and questions of trust and attribution.

Examples include: a news organization publishing a corrected figure after initial publication; a dataset receiving a new batch of measurements and a revised metadata record; a scholarly article release with an addendum; reader comments appended to a digital manuscript.

Postinformation plays a role in accountability, reproducibility, and ongoing interpretation, helping audiences understand the evolution of information. However, effective management requires clear version control, provenance records, and careful design to avoid confusion.

See also: metadata, annotations, provenance, version control, post-publication review.