Comparing Magazines and Journals
Your instructor may require that you find and cite scholarly, "peer-reviewed" journals. Peer-reviewed (or refereed) means that the article has been screened for publication by other scholars in the field. The table below shows how magazines and journals differ.
| Magazines | Journals |
Audience | General public, hobbyists, or fans | Targeted audience of scholars or professionals |
Purpose | To provide news, entertainment, or recreational reading | To present new research findings to professionals or scholars in a particular field |
Authors | Authors are not always named; usually staff or freelance writers | Authors are listed with their credentials; typically experts, professionals, or university scholars |
Review | Articles selected by an editor or editorial board | Articles are "peer-reviewed," or approved for publication by a panel of experts |
Publisher | Commercially published | Often issued by a university or professional association |
Frequency | Usually weekly or monthly | Usually monthly or quarterly |
Advertising | Abundant advertising that is often glossy and eye-catching | Advertising, if any, is usually professional and related to the field |
Language | Conversational style using common vernacular | Specialized or technical language of the field is used |
Layout | Informal, highly visual layout that can vary from one article to the next | Formal structure, often with standard section headings (Introduction, Methods, etc.) |
References | Sources are rarely used, articles lack a bibliography | Articles always include a complete list references, often extensive |
