Distinguishing Scholarly from Non-Scholarly Sources: Non­Scholarly Periodicals

Substantive News or General Interest

• These may be appealing in appearance. Articles often have numerous photographs.
• News and general interest periodicals may or may not cite sources used in articles.
• Articles may be written by a variety of staff members, scholars or freelance writers.
• The language is geared to interested audiences. No discipline knowledge is assumed.
• These periodicals are generally produced by commercial publishers.
• The primary purpose of these periodicals is to provide information to a broad audience

Examples of Substantive News or General Interest Periodicals

• Economist
• National
• Geographic Scientific
• American Forbes​