LibAnswers @ ADU Library: E-Journals

Criteria

Popular Magazines

Trade Journals

Scholarly Journals

Appearance

Print:

eye-catching cover and glossy paper

pictures and illustrations in color

each issue starts with page 1

Print:

glossy paper

pictures and illustrations in color

each issue starts with page 1

Print:

plain cover and plain paper.

black/white graphics and illustrations.

pages are usually consecutive in the volume.

Audience

General Public

Members of a specific business, industry or organization

Researchers, professionals and academics

Authors

Articles written by staff members, journalists, and freelance writers

Authors may be anonymous

Articles written by staff members, contributing authors or freelance writers

Authors usually named

Experts in the field such as professors

Authors named and institutional affiliations given

References or Bibliographies

Rarely include bibliographies

May include short bibliographies

Bibliographies are always present

Editors

Editors work for publisher

Editors work for publisher

Editorial board of outside scholars (known as peer review)

Content

Personalities, news of current events, and general interest articles

Industry trends, new products or techniques, and organizational news

Original research, in depth studies, literary criticism, and theory.

Articles usually contain abstracts.

Writing Style and Language

Easy to read, simple language used.

Aimed at the lay person.

Uses terminology and language of trade or industry covered

Uses discipline specific terminology that is sophisticated and technical .

Advertisements (Print Version)

Heavy
(for consumer products)

Moderate
(all or most are trade related)

Few or none
(usually for book or conference)