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Frequently Asked Questions

How can I distinguish between a magazine and a specialized or scholarly journal?

		Magazine		Scholarly Journal
Author		Journalist, layperson, or sometimes author unknown		Expert (scholar, professor, etc.) in field covered
Notes		Few or no references or footnotes		Includes notes and/or bibliography
Style		Written for average reader		Written for experts, shows research
Editing		Reviewed by one or more persons employed by magazine		Editorial board of outside scholars who review article before publishing
Audience		General public		Scholars or researchers in the field
Advertising		Many ads, often in color		Few or none; if any ads they are usually for books & other scholarly items
Look		Glossy, many pictures often in color		More sedate look; mostly print
Contents		Current events, general interest		More specialized, research topics
Indexes		Found in general periodical indexes (e.g., Readers Guide)		Found in subject specialized indexes

For descriptions of "refereed" (i.e., peer-reviewed) magazines and journals, see FAQ page in Ulrich's Periodicals Directory.

last revised: 4/7/08