LibGuides: Start Here: How do I pick the right materials for my research?: Different types of magazines & journals

Do you know the difference between a scholarly journal, a magazine, and a trade publication?

FROM: How to Do Research: In the Library and Beyond : A Guide for Students
by Marian Weston

CRITERIA	MAGAZINES/NEWSPAPERS	TRADE JOURNALS/TRADE NEWSPAPERS	SCHOLARLY JOURNALS
Also called:	CONSUMER OR POPULAR MAGAZINES	PROFESSIONAL JOURNALS	ACADEMIC, REFEREED, OR PEER REVIEWED JOURNALS
Appearance	magazines: glitzy cover; glossy paper; lots of color photos & graphics newspapers: newsprint; photos & graphics many advertisements	industrial/ professional motif on cover usually glossy paper but may be newsprint; may have color photos & graphics ads aimed at those in industry or profession	plain cover often plain paper; if illustrated, usually graphs & charts with little color few, if any ads
Audience	general public (often sold in stores & on newsstands)	members of specific industry or profession	scholars, researchers, students, professors
Content	usually short unsigned articles without bibliographies written by magazine/newspaper staff or by freelance writers	short to medium length articles; rarely include bibliographies; may be signed; written by staff or contributing authors involved in the industry or profession industry information, news, products, techniques, statistics; often job ads	long articles with abstracts at beginning & extensive footnotes & bibliographies; use language of the discipline; authors always indicated & are scholars/researchers in field research projects including methodology and theory
Accountability	general editors of magazine/newspaper review articles	general editors of journal review articles; editors often have experience &/or education within industry or profession often published by trade association	articles reviewed by board of scholars in subject field before accepted for publication (hence, peer-reviewed); publication editors are usually scholars in field as well. often published by professional organization or university
Purpose	primarily to produce profit for publisher; also may be to sell ad products, entertain, promote point of view, provide information	provide news and information to people in specific industry or profession	report or inform on original research or experimentation
Other	each issue starts with page one	each issue starts with page one	continuous paging throughout issues of volume
Examples	Business Week, Newsweek, Rolling Stone, Vogue, New York Times, Make	WWD (Women’s Wear Daily), Global Cosmetic Industry, Advertising Age, HFN	Fashion Theory, Journal of Marketing Research, Textile History

NOTES regarding the chart above: Within each category of periodical, there may be some variation. For example, the popular or consumer magazines category includes both magazines with very short articles directed at the general public, such as People Magazine, and magazines with more substantial articles that are geared to a more specific and educated audience, such as The Economist, ArtNews, or Scientific American. Also be aware that each periodical in a category may not have all of the characteristics listed for that category.