Your lecturers may advise you to use “academic sources” for study and assignments. This does not mean using only academic (scholarly, peer-reviewed) journals.

There is also a wide range of non-scholarly publications valuable for learning and professional developments, including, for example:

• trade (professional) publications, which are valuable for understanding contemporary practice in particular industries; 
• researchers’ blogs, podcasts and articles promoting and explaining their research in publications aimed at the public;
• newspapers and magazines, particularly specialist ones (e.g. Financial Times, Harvard Business Review, Forbes);
• publications, including online ones, promoting the work of professional bodies (e.g. CMI), research institutions and consulting businesses (e.g. Gallup) and other related businesses (e.g. Delloite Review); and 
• resources from governmental and international institutions (e.g. the US Department of State investment climate statements) and NGOs (e.g. Stonewall's resources on LGBTQ+ people in workplaces).

There is no one single way of discovering such resources. You may find some of them in the course of your employment or professional membership. Others may be found using generic search engines. Learners on the CMDA, SLA and SLMDA programmes will have access to resources provided by CMI.