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Is a Publication Scholarly?

Differences Between Types of Publications

Although publications might not meet all of the criteria in the categories below, those in the College's Library usually fall into one of the following three types of publications:

 

SCHOLARLY JOURNALS

NEWS/GENERAL INTEREST

POPULAR MAGAZINES

FORMAT

Have grave, serious formats

Are attractive in appearance

Generally slick and glossy with an attractive format

GRAPHICS

Contain graphs and charts to illustrate concepts.

Include photos, illustration, and graphics to enhance the publication.

Contain photos, illustration, and drawings to enhance publication's image.

SOURCES

Cite sources with footnotes and/or bibliographies.

Occasionally cite sources, but not as a rule.

Rarely cite sources. Original sources may be obscure.

AUTHORS

Written by scholars or researchers in the field or discipline.

Written for an educated, general audience by staff, free-lance, or scholarly writers.

Written by the staff or free-lance writers for a broad-based audience.

LANGUAGE

Use terminology, jargon, and the language of the discipline covered. Reader is assumed to have similar background.

Use language appropriate for an educated readership.

Use simple language for minimal educational level. Articles are short, with little depth.

PURPOSE

To inform, report, or make original research available to the scholarly world.

Provide general information to a wide, interested audience.

Designed to entertain or persuade, to sell products or services.

PUBLISHERS

Generally published by a professional organization.

Published by commercial enterprises for profits.

Published for profit.

ADVERTISING

Contain selective advertising.

Carry advertising.

Contain extensive advertising.

EXAMPLES

American Journal of Nursing, Harvard Business Review

Atlantic Monthly, Newsweek, Fortune, Psychology Today

Gourmet, Philadelphia, Sports Illustrated



This page is monitored by the Reference Librarians at Community College of Philadelphia
Last Modified 12 August 2002