Distinguishing Scholarly from Non-Scholarly Sources: Popular & Sensational Periodicals

Popular Periodicals

• Popular periodicals are published in many formats. They tend to be slick with lots of graphics including photographs, and drawing.
• These publications rarely cite sources of information. Information frequently is second or third hand.
• Articles tend to be very short with little depth of content and typically written in simple language.
• Articles are written by staff members or free­lance writers.
• The primary purpose of popular periodicals is entertainment, selling products, and/or promotion of a particular viewpoint.

Examples of Popular Periodicals

• Sports Illustrated
• Newsweek
• Good Housekeeping
• Ebony

Sensational Periodicals

• Sensational periodicals often are published in a newspaper format.
• The language used is simple and often sensational. Gullibility of the reader is assumed.
• The primary purpose of these periodicals is to increase curiosity typically through headlines designed to astonish.

Examples of Sensational Periodicals

• Globe
• National Inquirer
• Star