The following is a checklist of criteria for popular periodicals.
Popular periodicals come in many formats and are usually slick and attractive in appearance. They contain many photographs, drawings, etc. and usually have many advertisements.
These publications rarely, if ever, cite sources. Information published in such periodicals is often second or third hand, and the original source is sometimes obscure.
Articles are usually short in length, simple in language, and shallow in content. Only a minimal educational level on the part of the reader is assumed.
Articles are written by staff members or free-lance writers.
The main purposes of popular periodicals are to entertain the reader, to sell products, or to promote a viewpoint.