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 |
last revised: 4/7/08