What's the Difference? Scholarly Journals vs. Magazines

SCHOLARLY NEWS/GENERAL CRITERIA POPULAR… SENSATIONAL… JOURNALS… INTEREST…

FORMAT ...generally have grave, ...periodicals are attractive ...magazines are generally ...publications are often serious formats. in appearance. slick and glossy with an produced in a cheap attractive format. newspaper format.

GRAPHICS ...contain graphs and ...periodicals include ...magazines contain ...publications contain charts to illustrate the photographs, illustrations photographs, illustrations, melodramatic articles but seldom glossy and graphics to enhance and drawings to enhance photographs. pages or pictures. the publication. their image.

SOURCES ...cite sources with ...periodicals occasionally ...magazines rarely cite any ...publications rarely cite footnotes and/or cite sources, but this is the sources, original sources sources of information. bibliographies. exception not the rule. can be obscure.

AUTHORS ...are written by and for ...periodicals are written ...magazines are written by ...publications contain scholars or researchers in for an educated, general the publication's staff or articles written by free- the specialty. audience either by the free-lance writers for a lance writers or by the magazine's staff, a scholar, broad based audience. publication's staff for an or free-lance writers. impressionable readership.

LANGUAGE ...use terminology, jargon ...periodicals use language ...magazines use simple ...publications contain and the language of the appropriate for an language in order to meet a language that is simples, discipline covered. The educated readership. They minimum education level. easy-to-read and reader is assumed to have a do not emphasize a Articles are kept short, understand. An similar scholarly specialty but do assume a with little depth. inflammatory, sensational background. certain level of style is often used. intelligence.

PURPOSE ...purpose is to inform, ...periodicals provide ...magazines are designed ...publications arouse report or make available general information to a to entertain or persuade. A curiosity and interest by original research or wide, interested audience. hidden (or not so hidden) stretching and twisting the experimentation to the rest agenda is to sell products truth. Outrageous, of the scholarly world. or services. startling headlines are used to peak curiosity and gain readership. For example, "HUSBAND AND WIFE HAVE SEX CHANGE...TO SAVE MARRIAGE"

PUBLISHERS ...are generally published ...periodicals generally are ...magazines are published ...publications are by a professional published by commercial for profit. published for profit. organization. enterprises for profit.

ADVERTISING ...contain selective ...periodicals carry ...magazines contain ...publications contain advertising. advertising. extensive advertising. advertising as startling and melodramatic as the stories.

EXAMPLES ANNALS OF SCIENCE FORBES BETTER HOMES AND CHAUCER REVIEW FORTUNE GARDENS EDUCATIONAL THEORY PSYCHOLOGY TODAY GLAMOUR NATIONAL EXAMINER JAMA: THE JOURNAL OF SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN PEOPLE WEEKLY STAR THE AMERICAN MEDICAL TIME READER'S DIGEST SUN ASSOCIATION SPORTS ILLUSTRATED

Source: http://library.ucf.edu/reference/guides/ScholarlyvPopular.asp.