Types of Journals

CRITERIA POPULAR MAGAZINES PROFESSIONAL/TRADE JOURNALS SCHOLARLY JOURNALS
Who is the intended audience? The general public Members of a trade or profession Researchers and experts
Who are the authors? Staff writers, although many articles are unsigned Staff writers and experts in the field Researchers and experts
Are sources cited in a bibliography? Almost never Sometimes Always
What is the publication’s purpose? To disseminate general information and news or to entertain To publicize current topics and professional issues in the field To disseminate research findings
What is the content? General interest stories and news Trends, standards, and new technologies in the field Research reports
What kind of language is used? Language that requires no expertise Jargon that assumes expertise in the field Jargon that assumes expertise in the field
Who is the publisher? Commercial organizations Associations Associations or Universities
Is the source of the information reliable? Most of the time, but not necessarily -publishing deadlines mean a thorough review
is difficult to conduct
Usually – the articles often undergo reviews by an editor or editorial board, but sometimes publications are biased to support the industry Yes – the articles undergo blind reviews by other scholars