Scholarly vs. Popular Periodicals
Academic/Scholarly Journals vs. Popular Magazines
Academic/Scholarly Journals
An academic or scholarly journal is usually published by and for experts. To be published in an academic journal, an article must first go through a peer review process where a group of respected experts in a field reviews it for content and academic value. Academic sources will almost always include:
Academic journals are not usually printed on glossy paper, do not contain advertisements, and do not have colorful graphics or illustrations (although there are exceptions). These are publications that you would generally not pick up to read “for fun.”
Examples of academic journals include:
Popular Magazines
Articles in popular magazines tend to be written by staff writers or freelance journalists and are geared towards a general audience. Articles in popular magazines tend to be shorter than articles in academic journals. Most magazines abide by editorial standards rather than a peer review process, often have photographs or illustrations and rarely have bibliographic citations or references.
Examples of popular magazines include:
