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Comparing scholarly journals, popular, opinion, and trade magazines |
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Scholarly Journals print and online |
Trade/ Professional Journals |
VIEWPOINT/ OPINION MAGAZINES |
GENERAL/ POPULAR MAGAZINES print and online |
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Length |
Long |
Medium to long |
Medium to long |
Short |
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Purpose/Content |
Discusses a specific scholarly field; original research, in-depth studies, reviews of scholarly books; articles usually contain abstracts |
Industry or field-specific news, product reviews, forecasts and trends, book reviews |
Social and political commentaries, interviews, opinion pieces, book reviews |
Current events, popular culture, interviews; broad coverage of topics, general interest items |
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Article Authors |
Scholars, academics, researchers; authors are always named |
Professionals, practitioners, some journalists |
All types; academics, journalists, politicians; authors are often paid for their work |
Usually journalists and free-lance writers; student, popular author; authors are not always named; most authors are paid for their work |
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Accountability/ Cited Works |
A list of references is included at the end of each article |
May include citations |
May include citations |
Articles rarely include references, bibliographies or lists of works cited |
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Appearance/ Graphics |
May contain charts, graphs, or (in the sciences) photographs or illustrations that support the text |
Photographs, illustrations, tables, and charts (often glossy) |
May be heavily illustrated |
Many eye-catching photographs and illustrations that have marketing appeal; usually glossy |
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Audience |
Scholars, academics, researchers. |
Members of a trade, profession, business, or industry |
Educated readers |
General public. Basic reading level for a general audience; broad and simple language, general topics, written to be understood by almost anyone |
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Language |
Advanced reading level; may have specialized vocabulary; higher level language, serious tone, words used are specific to a discipline, written by experts |
Technical jargon |
Non-technical Language |
Non-technical language |
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Indexing |
Articles are listed in specialized databases and indexes; for example PsycINFO, |
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Articles are listed in general databases and indexes; for example Reader’s guide, Periodicals Index |
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Publisher |
Academic presses, scholarly associations |
Trade associations |
Non-profit organizations or commercial publishers |
Commercial publishers |
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Access |
Generally sent to subscribing university libraries, labs or offices |
Generally sent to office of subscribers |
Generally sent to subscribers or sold on newstands |
Sold on newsstands or sent to homes of subscribers |
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Advertising |
Very little or highly specialized; usually from academic publishers or scholarly associations |
May include glossy ads |
Often have glossy ads |
Many full-color glossy ads for consumer products |
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Review Policy |
Articles are viewed by peers; experts in the field. Editorial board is composed of scholars in the field |
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Editor or editorial board are members of the magazine’s staff |
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Chart design inspired by many library charts including Colorado State University Libraries and Springfield Township Virtual Library.
