Dunn Library

Popular Magazines, Scholarly Journals and Trade Publications

Different types of publications have different purposes and different audiences.
Periodicals can usually be divided into the three broad categories identified in the table below.

Characteristics Popular Magazines Scholarly Journals Trade Publications
Examples Jet
People
Psychology Today
Rolling Stone
Sports Illustrated
Time
 		Bioscience
Communications and the Law
Elementary School Journal
Journal of Marketing
Journal of Modern History
Journal of Religion
 		Advertising Age
American Libraries
Automotive News
NEA Today
Advertising Include lots of advertising for the general public. Do not usually rely on advertising for revenue. If advertising is included, it is specific to the field or discipline of the journal. Includes ads for trade or professional products and services.
Audience General audience. No special language used. No peer review process. Scholars in the particular subject or discipline. Journals use a peer review process where a draft of the article is critically assessed by other scholars in the author's field of specialty. Jargon is used. People in industry or those seeking employment in the industry. No peer review process. Jargon is used.
Authors Generally staff and freelance writers. Scholars in the particular or discipline. Specialists in a certain field or industry.
Content Subject field is broad and of general interest. Articles are meant to inform and entertain. Articles report on original research in a specific field or discipline. Articles cover narrow trade or professional issues and are of a practical nature.
Indexing Indexed in popular research databases or indexes such as MasterFILE Premier. Are usually indexed in subject-specific research databases or indexes such as Business Source Premier, ERIC, PsycInfo, Religion Index One, MEDLINE. Often indexed in both general and subject specific databases or indexes.
Layout Short glossy articles with many photographs. Long articles. Illustrations usually take the form of charts, graphs and tables. Short, technical articles with photos, charts and graphics.
Reference Author often not identified. Sources mentioned but often not cited. Author is identified. Research is documented with footnotes and bibliography. Articles are informal and journalistic. Author is identified. Sources are mentioned but often not cited in a formal bibliography.

Last Updated: 4/3/09