A scholarly journal is a periodical containing articles often written by scholars publishing the results of their research.
Scholars are usually professors or researchers.
In contrast, the articles in popular publications are often written by people on the staff of the magazine or by freelancers who are paid for their submissions. Judging what makes a journal scholarly is not a clear-cut process, but there are many indicators which can help you in making your decision. Some journals tend to focus on critical reviews of the scholarly or scientific work of a field, including book reviews, reviews of research, and similar critical evaluations of current research or thought in a field. Typically, scholarly journals are written for scientists, physicians, historians, professors, teachers, and other professionals who have a thorough formal training in a discipline. They already know the basics of a field and are looking to learn new and original information.