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Journals & Magazines

This LibGuide provides information about how to distinguish scholarly journals from professional or trade magazines and from popular magazines.

News & Analysis Publications

SUBSTANTIVE NEWS & ANALYSIS OR GENERAL INTEREST MAGAZINES

These periodicals may be quite attractive in appearance, and many are in newspaper format. Articles are often heavily illustrated, generally with photographs. News and analysis and general interest periodicals sometimes cite sources as scholarly journals do, though more often do not. Articles may be written by a member of the editorial staff, a scholar, or a free-lance writer. The peer-review process is not employed in the process of presenting content to readers. The editorial staff is responsible for the accuracy and verifiability of content as it works with contributors.

The language-level of these publications is generally aimed at any educated audience. There is no specialty assumed in the reader, only the interest to pursue the information contained and a medium education level. They are generally published by commercial enterprises or individuals, although some emanate from specific professional, non-profit organizations. The main purpose of periodicals in this category is to provide information and news and analysis of current events, in a general manner, to a broad audience of concerned citizens.

EXAMPLES OF SUBSTANTIVE NEWS OR GENERAL INTEREST PERIODICALS:

  • Atlanta Journal-Constitution
  • Economist
  • National Geographic
  • New York Times
  • Atlantic Monthly
  • The Nation
  • The National Review