One academic field Language includes technical terms and assumes substantial knowledge of field. Editors Editors assign their own reporters or commission free-lancers to write specific articles. Reporter is usually describing other peoples' experiences or opinions. Authors and editors are paid. Editors generally assign, commission, or accept articles.
Authors are reporters employed by magazine or practitioners in field.
Scholars write articles based on their own research. Scholars are usually PhDs-faculty, government scientists, museum curators, etc. Editors are fellow scholars who peer-review or referee to ensure research was done correctly and that result is new and significant. Accountability Controlled by journalistic ethics. May be fact-checkers employed by magazine.