Skip to Main Content

Justice & Peace: Magazines vs Journals

A Library Research Guide for Justice & Peace Studies

An explanation of how to distinguish between (academic) journals and (popular) magazines

Scholarly Journal

  • Audience - scholars in academic field

  • Readers have some understanding of the subject

  • Articles are refereed: must contribute to the existing body of knowledge in the field

  • Authors experts in the field

  • Generally no advertising, not a profit making enterprise

  • Generally few, if any pictures

  • Distributed mostly by subscription

Magazines Vs Journals

 

 

What is a "Refereed" (Peer-Reviewed) article?

Refereed, or peer-reviewed articles are ones which are reviewed by a board of editors who are expert in a given field.These readers/editors determine if the material submitted for publication adds something significant to a body of knowledge that already exists. Refereed (or peer-reviewed) materials are important to the research and the literature of most academic fields; they assure readers that the information conveyed is reliable and timely.

Note:
The term "scholarly materials" is often used to describe refereed (or peer-reviewed) materials. However,the term is not exclusive to refereed material. While non-refereed materials may not by scrutinized as intensely as refereed materials, they can still be considered scholarly (or academic)!

Magazine

  • Audience is general public
  • No previous knowledge is required
     
  • Articles must help sell the magazine
     
  • Authors are not necessarily experts
     
  • Carries lots of advertising, probably more than editorial content
     
  • Lots of glossy pictures
     
  • For sale at newsstands