1. Categories of Inform
(Popular, Scholarly, and Trade)

2. 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.

3. 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.

4.  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.

5. Criteria in Periodical
A 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.

6. Criteria in Periodical
A 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.

7. Criteria in Periodical
A 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.

8. 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.

9. 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

10. 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.