| Content |
More specialized, research based - often communicate research findings in a given field. |
General interest, often reports opinion in a story format; focus on current events and topics of general interest, and include a variety of advertisements for consumer products. |
| Author |
Experts, scholars, and noted professionals. Authors are most often clearly affiliated with an academic or research institution and an address is provided for readers to contact the author at his or her institution or academic department. |
Journalists, students, or anonymous, etc. Credentials not usually provided. |
| Audience |
Articles targeted to experts, specialists, or scholars in the same field. |
General interest readers. |
| Bibliography |
References/bibliographies are always included. |
Articles rarely include references. |
| Language |
Higher level language with a more formal tone. Language used may be specific to a discipline. |
Broad and simple language, written to be understood by almost anyone. |
| Length of article |
Longer articles, providing in-depth analysis. |
Shorter articles, providing broader overviews of topics. |
| Layout |
Articles usually more structured, may include: abstract, literature review, methodology, results, conclusion, bibliography. |
Articles do not necessarily follow a specific format or structure. |
| Peer review policy |
Articles are reviewed for quality and accuracy before publication by peer or experts in the field. Editorial board is composed of scholars in the field. |
Editor or editorial board are members of the magazine's staff – not experts in the field. |
| Special features |
Illustrations that support the text, such as tables of statistics, graphs, maps, or photographs. |
Illustrations with glossy or color photographs, usually for advertising purposes. |
