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What is a Periodical?

The word periodical is a generic term that refers to material that is published at regular intervals. Specific examples of periodicals include popular magazines, scholarly journals, industry and trade magazines, newsletters, newspapers and e-zines.

When doing research, it is important to be able to distinguish between the various types of periodicals--especially between popular magazines and scholarly journals. The type(s) of periodicals you use for a project depends on the focus and purpose of your research.

As a rule, you should be using scholarly journals in your projects.
Yet, there are instances in which it is appropriate and necessary to use popular magazines, trade and industry journals, and newspapers.

How can you tell the difference? Here is a printable chart listing the features of different types of periodicals.

Popular Magazines

The term "magazine" is usually applied to periodicals that are of a general or non-specialist nature. Examples of general interest magazines include: Time, Newsweek, Car and Driver, Vogue, etc. Helpful tips for determining whether a periodical is a general interest magazine include:

• Articles written with the general public in mind
• Current events, hot topics, social and political commentary
• Written in non-technical, easy-to-understand language
• Articles edited or reviewed by employees of the magazine
• Author is a journalist, freelance writer, layperson, or not listed at all
• Few or no references or notes
• Published weekly, or monthly
• Glossy appearance, many photographs, many advertisements

Scholarly Journals

Scholarly journals are periodicals written primarily for other scholars, researchers and graduate students in specific fields of study. They contain the results of original research and the writings, criticism and reviews of scholars in the humanities. Helpful tips for determining whether a periodical is a scholarly journal include:

• Articles written primarily with other scholars in mind
• Complex writing, specialized language of the discipline
• Articles reviewed and edited by other scholars in the field
• Author is an expert in field of study
• Many footnotes, lengthy bibliography
• Serious appearance, few if any advertisements
• Title contains words like: Journal of, Review, Quarterly

Industry and Trade Magazines

These are magazines that present information about a specific industry or trade. Advertising Age and ComputerWorld are examples of trade magazines.

Newsletters

Newsletters are produced by a various organizations to inform readers about the activities of the group. Examples include the AARP Bulletin, Newsletter of the Celtic Music Association, Radiological Health Bulletin, Bulletin of the Medical Library Association

Newspapers

Most newspapers are published daily; others are published weekly. Some, like the New York Times and the Christian Science Monitor, are considered national in scope; others, such as the Mobile Register, are considered regional newspapers. Many smaller cities and towns have their own local newspaper, as do neighborhoods within larger cities. There are also newspapers that focus on specific topics, such as The Catholic Week and the National Catholic Reporter.  Rolling Stone, The Harbinger, and the Village Voice are examples of alternative general newspapers that present ideas and cultural issues from a non-mainstream position.

E-zines

E-zines are self-published periodicals. Most e-zines focus on a specific topic and are not available in any of the normal places where you find magazines--like libraries and bookstores. E-zines are most often printed and distributed in a network of like-minded individuals by the person who created the e-zine. E-zines are being reviewed in a few sources such as the publication Reader's Guide to the Underground Press.