What is a trade journal, and how do I find it?
Answer
A trade journal or industry journal is a periodical published with the intention of marketing ideas, products, or services to a specific industry or type of trade/business. Collectively, these types of journals are referred to as the trade press. The peer-review process is not used in the process of presenting content to readers. Rather, the editorial staff is responsible for the accuracy of content. Trade and industry journals typically contain advertising content targeted on the industry in question with little if any general audience advertising. Examples include Beverage World (for the food service industry) and Billboard (for the music industry).
How do I find a trade journal article?
In many of the library's databases, there's an easy way to find trade journal articles. If you're using Academic Search Complete, on the Advanced Search page, scroll down to find a check box under "Limit your results" that shows "Trade Publications".
After choosing this option, run your search in Academic Search Complete. This should limit your search results to just the articles that are published in trade journals. This will eliminate peer-reviewed, news, and magazine articles (popular sources) from your results.