What is the difference between a scholarly journal and a popular magazine?
Answer
Scholarly journals are also called peer-reviewed journals. Peer review is a process by which editors have experts in a field review books or articles submitted for publication by the experts’ peers. Peer review helps to ensure the quality of an information source.
Elements of Scholarly Journals:
- Articles are lengthy, in-depth and written in the jargon of the field for others with similar backgrounds
- Authors are experts in the field
- Audience is the scholarly reader [professors, students, researchers]
- Illustrations support the text
- Bibliographies or references are always included
- Examples: American Sociological Review, Journal of Abnormal Psychology; Journal of Applied Science & Engineering Technology
Magazines are publication issued on a regular basis containing popular articles, written and illustrated in a less technical manner than the articles found in a journal.
Elements of the popular magazine:
- Feature writers; columns; occasional “guest” writers
- Usually do not include any bibliographies or references
- Articles are short [between 1 and 5 pages]
- Audience is the general public
- Popular topics written for anyone to understand
- Often include flashy photography or graphic elements for marketing appeal
- Examples: Rolling Stone, Time, Popular Science, National Geographic
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