Widely and easily available
MAY be very current -- depends on the author
No substantive content parameters. Responsibility is on the reader to judge reliability, accuracy and timeliness of information.
Content may be influenced by advertisers.
Audience: General Public
Reading level: Low to moderate
Short articles, generally not very in-depth
Very current
Best source for local news and events
Articles are fact-checked and edited (by other journalists)
Quick publication deadlines may affect accuracy
Content may be influenced by advertisers
Audience: General Public
Reading level: Moderate to low
Short to medium length articles
Relatively widely available
Often subscription rates are reasonably priced
Easy to read
Writers usually not subject experts
Content may be influenced by advertisers
Audience: Professionals in a specific field
Reading level: Medium
Short to medium length articles
May contain professional association or continuing education resources
May contain job search resources
Ads are usually limited to products and services within the field of interest.
May be hard to access outside of an academic library or unless you buy your own subscription.
Subscriptions may be expensive.
Subject matter may be extremely technical or of limited interest to readers outside of that field.
Audience: Scholars and researchers in a specific subject area
Always contain source citations
Reading level: High
Long articles
Reliable content. Articles are written and edited by experts in the field
In-depth examination of subject matter
Readers can use article citations to identify other important researchers in the field
May be hard to find outside of an academic library
Expensive subscription price
Writers often less concerned with readability than in other publication types
Slower publication rate -- Usually quarterly or biannually
Articles may require specialized knowledge to understand
Use the Lee College Library catalog to find books and e-books. Try stringing together several search terms to narrow your search.
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