Journal, Periodical or Magazine?
What's the difference between a periodical and a magazine? What does "peer-reviewed" journal or "scholarly journal" mean? What is a trade publication? If you're really confused about all the jargon, here's a quick way to figure it all out.
Different publications have different audiences, so it's important to determine which audience is being addressed when you need to review them for course work.
Scholarly Journals
- 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 or refeered process.
- Articles are usually reports on scholarly research.
- Illustrations usually take the form of charts and graphs.
- Articles use jargon of the discipline.
Examples:
Trade Publications
- 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.
Examples:
Popular Magazines and Newspapers
- 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 may be numerous and colorful.
- Language is geared to the general adult audience (no specialized knowledge of jargon needed).
Examples:
CML Journal Holdings
Popular Magazines for K-12 Students
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