Audience

Written for the “average” person who doesn’t have in-depth knowledge of a topic.

Aimed at professionals, researchers or others with more in-depth knowledge of the topic.

Content

Entertainment, opinion, current topics, quick facts.

Research, analysis, scholarship.  Often includes abstract, research methods, conclusion, bibliography.

Length

Shorter articles providing broad overviews of topics.

Longer articles providing in-depth analysis of topic.

Look

Glossy, color pictures, advertisements.

“Serious” looking, usually with fewer illustrations and advertisements.  Often contain many graphs and charts.

Author

Author is usually a staff writer or journalist.  The author’s name is often not provided.

Authors are usually experts, often university researchers.  Authors’ credentials are usually included.

Credibility

Articles are generally evaluated by staff editors rather than experts in the field.

Research articles must be reviewed by a “jury” of experts before they are published.  Sometimes referred to as “peer-reviewed” or “refereed.”

Examples

Newsweek, Time, Vogue, Psychology Today, Ebony, Readers Digest, Parents, Discover, Scientific American

Journal of American History, Science, Foreign Affairs, JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association, Modern Fiction Studies

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Linda Andrews
February 12, 2004