Northern Kentucky University

Popular Magazines

Target audience: General public

Periodicals aimed at a general or nonprofessional audience. Published frequently, they cover everything from news and entertainment (Time, Rolling Stone), to amateur science (Sky & Telescope), to recreation and hobbies (Runner's World).

Strengths:

• Source for background on significant events, including names, dates, interviews, photographs
• Popular perspectives on the social impacts of research
• Perspectives of particular groups
• Reviews of popular literature, art, and film
• Easily located at libraries, newsstands, and bookstores

Considerations:

• May be used for clues even when not cited in final paper
• Be wary of bias; objectivity is a myth. What do you know about the publisher? Does the publication have an editorial slant? Who is responsible for content?

This tutorial by W. Frank Steely Library, Northern Kentucky University is licensed under a Creative Commons License. Based on a work at www.lib.washington.edu.