Trade magazines are industry-specific publications that provide information on industry developments, job alerts, and networking opportunities. They also contain a high volume of industry-specific advertising. Peer-reviewed journals are collections of original research evaluated by independent experts. Trade magazines are not readily available in bookstores, but can be obtained through publishers or professional associations.
A technical or trade magazine is a publication aimed at people in a very specific industry. For people outside the industry, such a journal may seem boring or incomprehensible, while people in the industry use it to keep up with industry developments, connect with potential employers, and network with vendors. Most industries have specialized journals, with publications covering large fields such as biotechnology to much smaller, specialized fields such as landscape architecture.
One of the defining characteristics of a trade magazine is the high volume of industry-specific advertising. In a teaching journal, for example, ads for products designed to help teachers may be spread widely throughout the journal, sometimes taking the form of multi-page layouts masquerading as articles. A publication also usually contains job alerts, along with short articles on industry leaders and recent developments that may be of interest.
Conversely, some industries also publish peer reviewed journals, which are collections of original research that have been evaluated by a panel of independent experts. The sciences boast a huge number of peer reviewed journals, allowing researchers to share their work with others in the community and solicit criticism. Sometimes the line between a trade journal and a peer-reviewed journal can be blurred, with some peer-reviewed publications having a high percentage of advertisements.
When researching a trade or industry, a trade journal can sometimes be a useful starting point, especially if the researcher has a glossary of trade terms at hand. People who keep their eye on various industries often subscribe to these magazines so that they are alerted to developments in the industry; for example, researchers studying food policy and the food supply are often interested in learning about new preservation methods, food hybrids or innovative approaches to marketing campaigns.
Because a trade magazine is so specialized, such magazines are usually not readily available in bookstores, newsstands, and other places the average person might go for print media. The best source is often the publisher or a professional association that caters to industry members. Some publishers will send issues free to people in the industry or journalists who request them, and a subscription is often included with membership in a professional organization.
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