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Periodicals: Professional, Trade, and Industry or Special-Interest Periodicals

Periodical is the generic term which includes popular magazines, scholarly journals, newspapers, and subject or professional publications that are published at fixed intervals.

Look at the Article

  • Usually only one author; staff-written or written by freelance authors, guest contributors, or professionals in the field
  • Article length is usually short
  • Straightforward article titles; sometimes popular and catchy
  • Article does not have an abstract at the beginning
  • Sources are not cited; no references or bibliography at the end of an article

Look at the Whole Issue

  • Titles are short and sometimes include the word News (e.g. Metal Construction News, AAUP News)
  • Issued frequently (weekly, biweekly, or monthly)
  • Eye-catching covers, glossy paper, photos, illustrations, cartoons, sidebars
  • Many ads for products and services related to a particular profession, trade, or industry
  • Audience is a practitioner of a particular profession, member of a trade, or worker in an industry; uses language for an educated readership; assumes a certain level of a specialized knowledge
  • Purpose is to examine problems or concerns in a particular profession or industry; provides specialized information to a wide, interested audience
  • Rarely found on a newsstand or in a bookstore; requires a subscription or library access

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Subjects: Reference