Since magazines are aimed at the general public, they are usually printed on glossy paper and include many photos and appealing graphic features. Usually written by professional journalists or freelance writers, the language is simple in order to appeal to a wide variety of readers from those who are familiar with the topic to those who have no background in it. Other than a byline for the author, magazines rarely document materials used in the preparation of the articles. Articles are usually proofed by editors before publication but are not usually subjected to review by experts in the field. Since they are published for profit, most will include advertising usually aimed at the demographics of their readership or linked to the magazine's focus. While readers may obtain magazines through subscriptions, they can also find them at supermarkets, on newspaper stands or in bookstores. They may be published weekly, monthly or quarterly.
Since journals are scholarly publications that appeal more to researchers or specialists in a given field, they tend to be less "flashy" than their magazine counterparts. While they may contain photos and charts, they are usually printed on heavier paper with a non-glossy finish. Written by specialists in the field, the language will be more specialized and will contain jargon associated with the particular subject. Not only will these publications give credit to the author of the article and list his or her credentials, they will also document the sources used to create the article. While editors will proof these articles, experts in the field will also review them before publication. Since academic presses or professional organizations endorse and create these publications, little if any advertising is included. These publications are usually available only through subscription or found in academic sections of a library. Journals are usually printed quarterly.
While magazines will often include a wide variety of relatively short articles, journals will include a limited number of articles in each edition, some of which may be quite lengthy. While journals may present detailed research occurring in a given field, magazines will at best summarize the research results if there is a direct connection to their readership. In general, magazines will cover more contemporary subjects and topics than journals will.