Scholarly
Popular
Longer articles, providing in-depth
Shorter articles, providing broader
overviews of topics
Length analysis of topics
Author usually an expert or specialist in
Authorship the field, name and credentials always
provided
Author usually a staff writer or a
journalist, name and credentials often
not provided
Written in the jargon of the field for
Language/Audience scholarly readers (professors,
researchers or students)
Written in non-technical
language for anyone to
understand
Articles usually more structured, may include Articles do not necessarily
follow a specific format or
methodology, results, conclusion, bibliography
structure
Format/Structure these sections: abstract, literature review,
Special
Features
Illustrations that support the text, such as
tables of statistics, graphs, maps, or
photographs
Articles usually reviewed and critically
Editors evaluated by a board of experts in the field
Illustrations with glossy or color
photographs, usually for advertising
purposes
Articles are not evaluated by experts
in the field, but by editors on staff
(refereed)
A bibliography (works cited) and/or
Credits footnotes are always provided to
document research thoroughly
A bibliography (works cited) is usually not
provided, although names of reports or
references may be mentioned in the text
MAGAZINES AND JOURNALS THAT ARE NOT SCHOLARLY: NEWS
MAGAZINES like Time, Newsweek, and U.S. News and World Report. These periodicals
provide reputable reporting on current topics and are good sources for introductions to
those topics, but they don't provide the same analysis as scholarly journals. Articles are
not usually written by scholars in the field and are aimed at a more general audience than
are articles in scholarly journals.
OPINION MAGAZINES such as New Republic, National Review, Atlantic, and Nation.
These magazines are aimed at an educated audience, without assuming particular
scholarly background. They comment on current events and offer a particular viewpoint
on world affairs, politics, and cultural matters.
POPULAR MAGAZINES like Health, Sports Illustrated, Jet, People, Redbook, or
Reader's Digest. Most academic libraries don't carry as many of these magazines as
public libraries do. Popular magazines are attractive and entertaining, but do not report on
original research or cite sources, and are not the kind of sources to cite in the
bibliography of an academic paper.
TRADE JOURNALS such as Beverage World, Journal of Risk and Insurance,
Automotive News, and Progressive Grocer. These magazines are industry specific,
designed to update and inform the reader on current trends in the industry.
Trade or professional magazines are a kind of hybrid that report the news, techniques,
and activities going on in various fields and professions, but they don't contain original
research. Primarily, they serve to keep professionals "up-to-date" on new developments
in their field.
Scholarly Journals
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Authors are authorities
in their fields.
Authors cite their
sources in endnotes,
footnotes, or
bibliographies.
Individual issues have
little or no advertising.
Articles must go
through a peer-review
process.
Articles are usually
reports on scholarly
research.
Illustrations usually
take the form of charts
and graphs.
Articles use jargon of
the discipline.
Popular Magazines
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Authors are magazine
staff members or free
lance writers.
Authors often mention
sources, but rarely
formally cite them in
bibliographies.
Individual issues
contain numerous
advertisements.
There is no peer
review process.
Articles are meant to
inform and entertain.
Illustrations are
numerous and
colorful.
Language is geared to
the general adult
audience (no
specialized knowledge
of jargon needed).
Trade Publications
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Authors are specialists
in a certain field or
industry.
Authors often mention
sources, but rarely
formally cite them in
bibliographies.
Intended audience
includes people in the
industry or people
seeking employment
in the industry.
There is no peer
review process.
Articles give practical
information to people
in an industry.
Some illustrations are
included, usually
charts, graphs, etc.
Authors use jargon of
the industry.
Publishers Weekly
Information Today
Advertising Age
Black Enterprise
American Family Physician
NEA Today