Types of Periodicals
Identifiers |
Scholarly & Research Journals |
Popular Magazines |
Professional, Trade, & Industry Journals |
Journals of Commentary |
Newspapers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Report on original research or experimentation. | Report current events, entertain, provide general information. | Inform about current trends, news, and events within one industry or trade. | Commentary on political or social issues, often from a specific political p.o.v. | Current events, news stories, opinions. |
| Article Characteristics | Lengthy, in-depth articles, describe research methodologies, use technical or specialized language, peer-reviewed. | Shorter articles, use everyday language, not peer-reviewed. | Contain news, practical advice, and product information; language includes technical terms. | Short or long articles, everyday language, some speeches or interviews. | Short or long articles, local or regional focus, everyday language, written very quickly. |
| Overall Appearance | Plain covers and paper, usually no photographs or advertisements, sober and serious looking. | Glossy paper, many photographs and advertisements, eye-catching look. | Plain or glossy, many illustrations and graphics, include ads for products of interest to that field. | Varies greatly. Some have color, advertisements, and photographs. | Newsprint, broadsheets, photographs, advertisements. |
| Audience | Scholars, researchers, and students in a particular field of study. | General population. | Members of a specific industry/organization, practitioners in a field. | General, educated audience. | General population. |
| Authors | Scholars or researchers in the field of study. Authors always identified. | Reporters or journalists. Often unnamed. | Reporters, staff, or practitioners in the field. | Staff writers, specialists in a field, or journalists. | Journalists and free-lance writers. |
| Documentation | Always cite sources in lengthy lists of references or bibliographies. | Sources sometimes cited, but rarely. | Sources often cited, but documentation may not be extensive. | Sources often cited, but documentation may not be extensive. | No citations. |
| Examples | American Historical Review, Journal of Philosophy | Time, People, Rolling Stone | APA Monitor, Architectural Record, Automotive News | National Review, Mother Jones, The Nation | Los Angeles Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post |
| Access | Mailed to university or college libraries, labs, offices, or individual researchers. | Sold at grocery stores, newsstands, or mailed to subscriber's home. | Usually free with membership in the professional organization. | Sold at grocery stores, newsstands, or mailed to subscriber's home. | Newsstands and grocery stores, delivery to home. |
Last Updated 10/04/07 zk
