Academic Journals vs. Popular Magazines

Academic Journals

An academic journals 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 widely known experts in a field reviews it for content and academic value. Academic sources will almost always include:

Bibliography and footnotes
Author's name and academic credentials

Academic journals are not usually printed on glossy paper, do not contain advertisements, and do not have colorful graphics or illustrations (but there are always exceptions). Examples of academic journals include:

Journal of the American Medical Association
Journal of American Studies
Journal of Language and Culture
Journal of Library and Information Science

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 populare magazines tend to be shorter than articles in academic journals. Most magazines abide by editorial standards, articles do not go through a peer review process and rarely have bibliographic citations. Examples of popular magazines include:

Atlantic Monthly
Newsweek
People Magazine
Scientific American
TIME Magazine
US News & World Report

Last Updated 11 June 2000