There are three main types of periodicals: scholarly journals, popular magazines, and professional journals. Scholarly journals contain lengthy, original research articles written for an academic audience using technical language and including bibliographies. Popular magazines have short, general interest articles for a non-academic readership using everyday language with many advertisements and illustrations. Professional journals are between scholarly and popular sources, providing current information for industry professionals on trends and practices in their field.

2. Types of Periodicals
Periodicals have a variety of characteristics. They can be divided into 3
main types or categories. This tutorial will explain mainly the differences
between popular and scholarly journals. S
Popular Professional Scholarly
Magazines Journals Journals

3. Which is which?
Scholarly Popular
• Few illustrations • Many illustrations
– Usually graphs or charts – Usually glossy, color photos
• Few advertisements • Many advertisements
– Usually for academic services or – Usually for consumer products
items related to journal topic.
• Short articles, no bibliographies
• Lengthy articles with
• Author may not be listed and
bibliographies
credentials are rare
• Author is listed with credentials
– Usually staff or freelance writers
– Usually part of a university
• Articles cover general interest
• Article discusses original research topics
• Written using vocabulary of the • Written for general public using
academic subject everyday vocabulary

4. How do you find them?
• Databases
– OmniFileFullTextSelect contains scholarly, professional and
popular articles.
– Some databases contain mainly scholarly journal articles. If you
want only scholarly sources, be sure to select the “Peer
Reviewed” box in your search!
• Newsstands
- Some popular magazines can be found at newsstands as well as in
databases.

5. Scholarly: Academic Journals
• Examples:
– Journal of Social Psychology
– Journal of Applied Physiology
– New England Journal of
Medicine
• Characteristics:
– Technical language
– Reports of original research
– Research methods and
results, discussion and
extensive citations

6. Popular: Professional Trade Journals
• Examples:
– Advertising Age
– Library Journal
– Modern Plastics
• Characteristics:
– Written for professionals in
the field
– Current trends and practices
– Meetings, jobs, personalities

7. Popular: Magazines
• Examples:
– Sports Illustrated
– Parenting
– Martha Stewart Living
• Characteristics:
– Lower reading level
– Tips, how to, recipes
– Targeted to specific consumer groups

8. Popular: News Magazines
• Examples:
– Time
– Newsweek
– U.S. News & World Report
• Characteristics
– Non-technical language
– Current events overviews
– Book and movie reviews

9. Popular: Opinion Journals
• Examples:
– National Review
– Christianity Today
– New Republic
• Characteristics:
– Educated audience
– Particular viewpoint
– Commentary on politics and
society

10. Popular: Newspapers
• Examples:
– New York Times
– Wall Street Journal
– Detroit News
• Characteristics:
– Current information
– News stories and features
– Opinion and commentary

11. Questions?
Ask a reference librarian!
Phone: 517-750-6742
OR 800-968-9103 ext. 1742
Email: saulibrary@gmail.com

12. Image Credits
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/big/0720.html
http://www.marthastewart.com/customer-service
http://img.timeinc.net/time/magazine/archive/covers/2012/1101120109_400.jpg
http://c0.nrostatic.com/nrd/images/covers/20120206.gif
http://www.tandf.co.uk/common/jcovers/websmall/V/VSOC.jpg