Categories of Information(Popular, Scholarly, and Trade)

What is Information?Information- is a sequence of symbols that can be interpreted as a message. Information can be recorded as signs, or transmitted as signals. Information is any kind of event that affects the state of a dynamic system. Conceptually,information is the message(utterance or expression) being conveyed. 

SCHOLARLY, TRADE, OR POPULAR INFORMATION: EXAMPLE IN A PERIODICAL.

PERIODICAL:  Serial publication issued at a regular interval: daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, etc.

MAGAZINE:  Often used to refer to a popular or general interest periodical.

JOURNAL: Often used to refer to scholarly or academic periodical.  The word itself in title is not necessary or sufficient to define it as scholarly.

POPULAR:  Popular periodicals, often called magazines, usually contain short articles on a variety of topics written by authors in an informal style.  Such articles are sometimes unsigned and usually do not include bibliographies.  Popular periodicals are usually published by commercial publishers.

SCHOLARLY: Also known as academic, scholarly periodicals publish original research and commentary on current developments within a specific discipline.  Articles are signed, are often lengthy, include minimal illustrations and advertisements, and almost always include bibliographies. 

TRADE: Also known as professional, industry-specific, or special interest periodicals, trade periodicals are generally printed with the purpose of disseminating information and news of interest to a specific category of business or industry.  Such publications are often published by trade associations.  Articles found in trade periodicals usually fall somewhere between popular and scholarly.  

Criteria in PeriodicalA popular magazine or newspaper usually fits these criteria:

•Information are usually written by a journalist.

•Information are written to be understandable to a wide audience. The author 

writes in simple language and assumes that the reader may not know much about 

the topic.

•The purpose of the article is to entertain, to report news, or to summarize 

information.

•Articles rarely include a bibliography, but sources may be mentioned by name 

within the article. 

•Magazines and newspapers are usually published by a commercial publisher.

•Magazines are usually published weekly or monthly; newspapers are usually 

published daily or weekly.

•Magazines and newspapers usually have many advertisements and photographs.

Criteria in PeriodicalA professional or trade publication usually fits these criteria:

•Information are written by members of the profession or trade, or by 

specialized journalists or technical writers.

•Information are written for other members of the profession or trade. 

Language may include jargon and terms that are commonly used in the 

profession/trade. The author will assume that the reader has a certain level of 

knowledge about the field.

•The purpose of the article is to inform those working in the field/profession of 

events, techniques, and other professional issues.

•Information may occasionally include a bibliography.

•Trade publications are often published by the professional/trade associations 

for the field.

Criteria in PeriodicalA scholarly or academic journal usually fits these criteria:

•Articles are written by researchers and subject experts.•Most articles are approved for publication by the process of peer review, whereby the author submits the article to the journal and the article is reviewed by other subject experts to verify that its methodology is sound and that its conclusions are valid. This process helps to ensure a high level of quality and academic rigor in the articles that are published.•Articles are written for other members of the academic discipline: researchers, professors, and students. Language will include jargon, terms, and/or statistical figures that are commonly used in the discipline. The author will assume that the reader has a certain level of knowledge about the field and the topic at hand.•The purpose of the article is to report research and scholarly ideas and to add to the body of scholarly knowedge about the subject.•Articles will include a bibliography, and in some disciplines (especially physical sciences and social sciences), will follow a strict structure that includes an abstract, research methodology, data, and a discussion of the results and implications of the research.

Categories of Information in Periodicals:

Scholarly Journals

Authors are authorities in their fields.

Authors cite their sources in endnotes, footnotes, or

bibliographies.

Individual issues have little or no advertising.

Articles must go through a peer-review process.

Articles are usually reports on scholarly research.

Illustrations usually take the form of charts and graphs.

Articles use jargon of the discipline.

Categories of Information in Periodicals:Popular Magazines

Authors are magazine staff members or free lance writers.

Authors may mention sources, but rarely formally cite them in

bibliographies.

Individual issues contain numerous advertisements.

There is no peer review process.

Articles are meant to inform and entertain.

Illustrations are numerous and colorful.

Language is geared to the general audience

Categories of Information in Periodicals:

Trade Publications

Authors are specialists in a certain field or industry.

Authors often mention sources, but rarely formally cite them in

bibliographies.

Intended audience includes people in the industry.

There may or may not be a peer review process.

Articles tend to give practical information regarding the industry.

Some illustrations are included, usually charts, graphs, etc.

Authors use jargon of the industry.

thank you