Magazines, journals, and newspapers (all referred to as periodicals) are usually separated into three major types:
- Scholarly
- Popular
- Trade and Professional
Here are some ways to tell the difference:
| Major Differences | Scholarly Journals | Popular Magazines/ Newspapers |
Trade Magazines/ Newspapers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intended Audience | Intended for individuals in a specific field of study. Readers are assumed to have some knowledge in the field. | Intended for a general audience. Some are for a specific group, such as runners or teens. | Intended for individuals in a specific profession, business or occupation. |
| Contents | Articles report research and case studies; most articles include bibliographies. | Articles are intended to entertain and/or provide general information. | Articles provide current professional information and industry news; may contain job listings. |
| Appearance | Layout is usually just text; few photos; lengthy articles. | Usually have photos and advertising; fairly short articles. | Contain product advertisements of interest to individuals in the specific professions; some pictures; usually short articles. |
| Authors | Articles are written by scholars in a particular field. | Articles are written by staff writers with no specific credentials in a particular field. | Articles are written by staff writers and reporters hired by the publication, usually with knowledge of the profession or field. |
| Article Acceptance Procedure | Articles are peer-reviewed (an editorial board reviews each article for accuracy and quality). | Articles are not peer-reviewed. | Articles are reviewed and selected by magazine or newspaper editors. |
| Documentation | Articles contain extensive footnotes and bibliographies of reference sources. | For news articles, sources are sometimes listed. | For news articles, sources are sometimes listed. |
| Examples | American Sociological Review, Foreign Language Annals, Journal of British Studies | Time, Good Housekeeping, Runners World, Atlantic Monthly, Virginian-Pilot, U.S. News and World Report, New Yorker | Teacher Magazine; Architectural Review; Coach and Athletic Director |
| Sample citations (in MLA format) | From a scholarly source: Masters, Kevin S. “Research on the Healing Power of Distant Intercessory Prayer: Disconnect Between Science and Faith.” Journal of Psychology & Theology 33.4 (2005): 268-277. | From a popular source: Szegedy-Maszak, Marianne and Caroline Hsu. “How We Talk to God.” U.S. News & World Report 24 Dec. 2004: 55-62. | From a trade source: Bhonslay, Marianne. “Picking Up Speed.” Sporting Goods Business Jan. 2004. 26-30. |