What is the Difference Between Periodicals and Journals

The main difference between periodicals and journals is their audience. Periodicals can be written for a general or scholarly audience, whereas journals are written for a scholarly audience.

The two terms periodicals and journals are closely related to each other. Periodicals refer to publications issued at regular intervals. Magazines, newspapers, newsletters, and journals are types of periodicals. Journals are a type of periodicals written for a scholarly audience.

Key Areas Covered

1. What are Periodicals
     – Definition, Features, Content
2. What are Journals
     – Definition, Features, Content
3. What are the Similarities Between Periodicals and Journals
     – Outline of Common Features
3. What is the Difference Between Periodicals and Journals
    – Comparison of Key Differences

Key Terms

Journals, Periodicals, Academic, Scholarly

What are Periodicals

A periodical is a generic name referring to publications issued at regular intervals. Magazines, newspapers, newsletters, and scholarly journals are types of periodicals. Each periodical issue contains a collection of unique articles, and no issue is exactly the same. Moreover, an issue has a number, and all the issues within a year are a part of a volume, which also has a number. This is why when we cite a specific article from a magazine, journal, or newspaper, we have to mention the issue and volume number. It helps the readers to find the relevant periodical more quickly.

The target audience of many periodicals is a general audience who do not have knowledge or training in a specific field. Periodicals can have different types of content; for example, a magazine can have sections like interviews, reviews, news, and different types of articles. Furthermore, the periodicals written for a scholarly audience are called journals.

What are Journals

In academia, a journal is a scholarly publication. It’s a collection of articles written by researchers, professors and other experts. Journals typically focus on a specific discipline or field of study. For example, medical journals, literature journals, etc. In fact, journals target an academic or technical audience, not general readers. Moreover, journals are available in print medium or as online publications.

Articles on a journal typically contain original research. In addition, they undergo peer-reviewing.  Journals also focus on current developments in that field and cite related other works and contain bibliographies.

Furthermore, publications of journals happen on a regular basis; for example, monthly, quarterly, annually, etc. Moreover, they have sequential numbers. Each journal is an issue; a set of issues makes a volume. In general, each year has a separate volume. 

Similarities Between Periodicals and Journals

• Both periodicals and journals are published regularly: weekly, monthly, quarterly, etc.
• They also have specific issue numbers and volumes.
• Moreover, they contain a set of articles.

Difference Between Periodicals and Journals

Definition

Periodicals are publications issued at regular intervals, while journals are scholarly publications published regularly.

Nature

Daily newspapers, magazines, and journals are types of periodicals while journals are scholarly publications.

Audience

The audience of periodicals is a general audience, while the audience of journals is scholars, researchers, and students.

Content

Moreover, periodicals can contain different types of content, whereas journals contain original research written by experts.  

Language

Periodicals have a simple, easy-to-understand language, while journals have technical or academic language.

Conclusion

Periodicals are publications issued at regular intervals while journals are scholarly publications published regularly. In fact, journals are a type of periodicals written for a scholarly audience. Therefore, this is the main difference between periodicals and journals.

Reference:

1. “What Is A Periodical?” Elmer E. Rasmuson Library, Available here.
2. “What’s a Journal?” University of Victoria, Available here.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Journal of Teaching English for Specific and Academic Purposes, 2017” By University of Nis, Serbia – (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “1174419” by MichaelGaida (CC0) via Pixabay