Magazines
A magazine is a regularly published collection of articles that focus on any topic in general or on topics of interest to a specific group such as sports, music, or home decorators. Magazines might be published weekly, monthly, semi‐monthly, or only several times a year. More commonly, magazines are published weekly or monthly. Examples of magazines include Time, Newsweek, Rolling Stone, Popular Mechanics, Car and Driver, Interview, Good Housekeeping, Elle, GQ, and Sports Illustrated.
Generally, magazines:
- are about more popular subjects;
- are more informal in style and language;
- are for the general public;
- are written by journalists and staff writers;
- include advertisements as a source of revenue;
- are in full color on glossy or semi-glossy paper;
- articles are shorter – usually under 3 pages.
Magazines typically do not include the credentials of the author nor do they include references.
Evaluating Magazines
Evaluating magazines is crucial for students to ensure the reliability, accuracy, and relevance of the information they include in their research. Here are key reasons why this evaluation is important:
Authority and Credibility
- Assess the reputation of the magazine and the qualifications of the authors.
Purpose and Audience
- Understand the magazine's target audience and purpose, whether it's for entertainment, education, or advocacy.
Accuracy and Bias
- Check for factual accuracy and identify any potential biases or editorial slants.
Relevance
- Ensure the content is relevant to your research topic and meets the required level of detail and depth.
Publication Date
- Consider the timeliness of the information, especially for rapidly changing fields.
By carefully evaluating magazines, researchers can effectively use them to supplement academic sources and provide a well-rounded perspective in their work.
Research Tip
Searching for magazines to use in your research? Use the OneSearch to find different types of resources available at Taft College. Students can filter results by Resource Type such as:
- journals
- newspapers
- book chapters
- magazines
- and more...
For more detailed information on how to use Taft College OneSearch, visit the TC Library Online libguide.