Sacred Heart Catholic High School Library Visit: Scholarly Sources vs. Media Sources

CRITERIA

SCHOLARLY PUBLICATIONS

POPULAR PUBLICATIONS
(e.g. magazines, newspapers, etc...)

Advertising

may contain selective advertising

will contain extensive advertising

Authors & Audience

written by and for academics or researchers

written by staff or freelance writers for a broad audience

Format & Graphics

may include graphs and charts;
seldom contain glossy pages or pictures

often slick and glossy;
will contain photographs, illustrations and/or drawings

Language

may use discipline-specific language or jargon

uses everyday language that is accessible to the average reader

Length

lengthy articles with in-depth coverage of topics

shorter articles: usually provide broad overview of topics

Publishers

generally published by a professional organization

published for profit

Purpose

to inform, report, or make available
original research to the scholarly world

to entertain, inform, or persuade

Sources

footnotes and/or bibliographies

rarely cite any sources