Popular

Authors:

·       Usually staff or freelance writers

·       May not be identified

·       Credentials usually not given

·       Were not directly involved in the ideas, events, and work they are reporting

Content:

·       Written for a large general audience

·       Language is non-technical and easy to understand

·       Gives an overview of the subject

·       Intended to entertain as much as to inform

·       Reports on research from information already published in scholarly journals

·       Usually does not include a bibliography that identifies sources

·       Cover is designed to be eye-catching

·       Many advertisements for popular products

·       Glossy illustrations are used to complement the article

Editorial:

·       Content is approved by editors who are journalists, not experts in the field

·       Fact-checking is careful, but not extensive

Scholarly

Authors:

·       Specialists or experts in their field

·       Are always named

·       Professional affiliation or credentials are usually given

·       Are reporting on findings or observations from their own original research or reviewing work done by others in the discipline

 Content:

·       Articles are meant to be read by other professionals in the field

·       Readers are assumed to have some background knowledge of the subject

·       Can include early reports of research, news, conference announcements, and reviews

·       Language and tone are serious and scholarly

·       Vocabulary can include technical “jargon” of the field

·       Illustrations are few and only serve to document and support the contents of the article – graphs, tables and charts

·       Articles always include footnotes or a bibliography

·       Advertising is absent or of interest only to the profession

Editorial:

·       Articles are evaluated, reviewed and edited by other professionals in the field – peers of the authors and readers

·       Standards of content and documentation are stringent