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Scholarly and Popular Resources: Quick Guide

Criteria

Criteria

Scholarly Journals

Popular Magazines

News Magazines

Purpose

To inform, report, and make available original research and new findings

To entertain and inform without in-depth analysis

To offer in-depth reporting and feature articles

Content

Research summaries, literature reviews, methodology, and theory

Entertainment personality profiles and current popular culture articles

Recent political and economic news background and analysis

Contributors

Academic professors and other subject specialists with credentials

Freelance writers, journalists, and editorial staff

Editorial staff, freelance writers and pre-eminent authors and scholars

Intended Audience

Researchers, students, and professionals in the field

A general readership of non-specialists

A broad, but well-read and educated, audience

Sources

Numerous footnote or endnote citations and a substantial bibliography

Infrequently mentioned; difficult to trace or substantiate sources

May refer to sources, but will not usually document them in a formal manner

Advertising

Limited:  few or none

Ads are present and may be a predominant feature

Ads are present, but not predominant

Appearance

Sober, serious look; plain paper; usually black & white illustrations and graphics

Slick & attractive:  glossy paper, eye-catching cover, illustrations in color

Glossy paper, eye-catching cover, illustrations in color

Publisher

Universities or professional societies/associations

Business organizations

Business organizations, individuals, or professional associations

Writing style

Assumes a highly educated readership, uses technical language & jargon

Short, easy to read, no jargon

Avoids jargon; strives to use non-technical language

Samples

American Psychologist

Harvard Business Review

Education Researcher

Jet

Chicago

People

Business Week

Economist

Newsweek

 

Ask to see the Ulrich’s International Periodicals Directory to verify that a journal is scholarly.

You may limit database searches to “peer reviewed” in EBSCO’s databases or to “refereed” in Expanded Academic ASAP.  In First Search’s WilsonSelectPlus, search by “peer-reviewed journal” in the “Reviewed Journal Phrase” field.

Quick Guide to Journals and Newspapers

Criteria

Scholarly Journals

Trade/Industry Journals

Popular Magazines

Newspapers/News Magazines

Examples

American Psychologist
Harvard Business Review
Education Researcher

Publishers Weekly
Advertising Age
Information Today

Jet
Chicago
People

Economist
Newsweek
New York Times

Audience

Researchers, students, and professionals in the field

Members of a specific business, industry or organization

General public

A broad, but well-read and educated, audience

Purpose

To inform, report, and make available original research and new findings

Provide practical industry information

To entertain and inform without
in-depth analysis

To offer in-depth reporting and feature articles

Content

Research summaries, literature reviews, methodology, and theory

Industry news or trends and product information

Entertainment personality profiles and current popular culture articles

Recent political and economic news background and analysis

Contributors

Academic professors and other subject specialists with credentials

Industry specialist or staff writer (articles may be unsigned)

Freelance writers, journalists, and editorial staff

Journalists, editorial staff and freelance writers

Sources

Numerous footnote or endnote citations and a substantial bibliography

Articles generally do not contain references or footnotes

Infrequently mentioned; difficult to trace or substantiate sources

May refer to sources, but will not contain references or footnotes

Advertising

Limited:  few or none

Ads and/or classifieds for related goods, services or employment

Ads are present and may be a predominant feature

Ads are present and prominently placed

Appearance

Sober, serious look; plain paper; usually black & white illustrations and graphics

Generally has many illustrations

Slick & attractive:  glossy paper, eye-catching cover, illustrations in color

Plain paper and contains advertising

Publisher

Universities or professional societies/associations

Published for profit or by professional or  trade association

Published for profit

Published for profit

Writing style

Assumes a highly educated readership, field specific jargon Scholarly language

Technical, containing jargon of the industry

Short, easy to read, no jargon

Avoids jargon; strives to use non-technical language