How to Cite a Newspaper Article: A Comprehensive Guide

Ever stumbled across a captivating news story that perfectly supports your research, only to be stumped on how to properly credit the source? You’re not alone. While we readily absorb news from countless outlets daily, knowing how to accurately cite a newspaper article is a crucial skill for students, researchers, and anyone engaging in academic or professional writing. Failing to properly cite sources, even unintentionally, can lead to accusations of plagiarism and damage your credibility. Accurate citations, on the other hand, demonstrate thoroughness, integrity, and respect for the work of journalists and news organizations.

Whether it’s a groundbreaking investigative piece, a local human-interest story, or a critical editorial, newspaper articles provide valuable insights and perspectives. Knowing how to correctly acknowledge these sources ensures that your work is both ethical and academically sound. This allows readers to easily verify your information, explore the original source in depth, and build upon the foundation of your research.

Frequently Asked Questions About Citing Newspaper Articles

What elements are needed to cite a newspaper article?

To properly cite a newspaper article, you generally need the author’s name (if available), the article title, the newspaper’s name, the date of publication, and the page number(s) where the article appears (if it’s a print edition). For online articles, include the URL and the date you accessed the article.

Different citation styles, like MLA, APA, and Chicago, have specific formatting rules, but the core elements remain the same. Knowing these elements allows you to construct accurate citations regardless of the specific style guide you are using. Providing complete information enables readers to easily locate the source and verify the information cited in your work. The author’s name is crucial for giving credit to the writer of the article. The article title identifies the specific piece of information you are referencing. The newspaper name and publication date are necessary to pinpoint the source. The page numbers are essential for print editions, helping readers quickly find the information within the newspaper. The URL and access date are particularly important for online sources, as web pages can change or be removed over time. Including these details ensures transparency and credibility in your research.

How does the citation format change (APA, MLA, Chicago)?

The core elements of a newspaper article citation (author, article title, newspaper name, date, and page number/URL) remain consistent across APA, MLA, and Chicago styles, but the formatting and order of these elements differ significantly. Specifically, the way authors are listed, dates are formatted, titles are presented (quotation marks vs. italics), and the inclusion of access dates or database information varies according to each style’s guidelines.

Expanding on these differences, APA style emphasizes the publication date and uses sentence-case capitalization for the article title, while MLA style prioritizes the author and uses title-case capitalization. Chicago style offers two versions: Notes-Bibliography and Author-Date. The Notes-Bibliography style uses footnotes or endnotes with full bibliographic entries, while the Author-Date style, similar to APA, uses parenthetical in-text citations linked to a reference list. Crucially, the way you represent the newspaper name and whether you include the URL or accessed date depends heavily on the specific style guide you’re following. Consider this example: Imagine you’re citing an article titled “Local Election Results” published in the *New York Times* on October 26, 2023. In APA, the date appears immediately after the author’s name in parentheses and the article title is in sentence case. In MLA, the article title is in title case and enclosed in quotation marks. In Chicago (Author-Date), the year immediately follows the author’s name in the parenthetical citation. Understanding these nuances and consulting the relevant style guide is essential for accurate and consistent citation practices.

Do I need a URL if I read the article in print?

Generally, no, you do not need to include a URL when citing a newspaper article you read in print. The core purpose of a citation is to allow readers to locate the source themselves, and for a print article, that’s achieved through providing information like the newspaper’s name, the date of publication, the section (if applicable), and the page number(s).

However, there are exceptions and nuances. If the print version is significantly different from the online version (e.g., different length, title, or content), and an online version *is* available, it can be helpful to include a URL or DOI (Digital Object Identifier) if you accessed or are referencing something specific to the online version. This allows readers to verify the specific content you are citing, especially since many newspapers now have online archives accessible through search.

Ultimately, consult the specific citation style guidelines (MLA, APA, Chicago, etc.) that you are required to follow. Some styles may have specific recommendations regarding URLs for print articles now, given the prevalence of online archives. If the style guide does not explicitly mention URLs for print articles, omitting it is typically acceptable, as long as you provide sufficient information for your reader to find the article in its print form. When in doubt, err on the side of providing more information rather than less, especially if the newspaper offers an online archive that readers might use to verify the article.

How do I cite an article with no listed author?

When citing a newspaper article with no listed author, use the title of the article in place of the author’s name in your citation. Follow the citation style guidelines (MLA, APA, Chicago, etc.) that you are using, ensuring that the title is formatted correctly (e.g., in italics or quotation marks, depending on the style) and that the rest of the citation includes the newspaper’s name, date of publication, and page number (if available).

For example, in MLA style, a citation for a newspaper article titled “New City Budget Approved” with no listed author would start with the title: “New City Budget Approved.” Then, you would include the newspaper’s name, date, and page number, following the MLA format. If the article is accessed online, you’d also include the URL. This approach ensures that readers can locate the source, even without a specific author attributed to it. Remember that some online articles might not have page numbers.

Different citation styles may have minor variations in how they handle authorless works, so always consult the specific style guide (e.g., the MLA Handbook, the APA Publication Manual, or the Chicago Manual of Style) for the most accurate and up-to-date guidelines. Consistency in citation is crucial for academic integrity and clarity.

• **MLA:** “Article Title.” *Newspaper Name*, Date, Page Number(s). URL (if online).
• **APA:** Article Title. (Year, Month Day). *Newspaper Name*. URL (if online).
• **Chicago:** “Article Title.” *Newspaper Name*, Date. URL (if online).

What if I accessed the article through a database?

When citing a newspaper article accessed through a database like LexisNexis, ProQuest, or EBSCOhost, you still need the core elements of a newspaper citation (author, article title, newspaper title, date), but you also need to acknowledge the database. Generally, include the database name, and, depending on the citation style (MLA, APA, Chicago), you might need the URL or DOI (Digital Object Identifier) if available. If no DOI is available, use the database URL or permalink.

Many databases archive newspaper articles, making them readily available online. This convenience changes the citation slightly, as you need to acknowledge the source where you found the article. Think of the database as the “container” holding the newspaper article. The exact formatting depends on the citation style you are using, so always consult the relevant style guide (MLA Handbook, APA Publication Manual, Chicago Manual of Style). The crucial additions when citing a database-sourced article are the database name (e.g., ProQuest, LexisNexis, NewsBank) and either a DOI or a stable URL or permalink. A DOI is preferable if available. If a DOI is not provided, look for a stable URL or permalink provided by the database; this is a direct link that will consistently lead back to the article within the database. Avoid using the URL from your browser’s address bar, as these are often temporary and may not work for others. As a general example, using MLA 9th edition, here is how the inclusion of the database name might alter the citation from the basic newspaper citation (author, article title, newspaper name, date, page number) to include the database: Author, A. “Article Title.” *Newspaper Title*, Date, pp. xx-xx. *Database Name*, URL or DOI.

Where does the page number go in a citation?

The page number in a newspaper article citation typically appears at the end of the citation, after the title of the newspaper (or the URL if online), and after any section designations if applicable (e.g., “Business,” “Sports”). It helps the reader quickly locate the specific article within the larger newspaper or website.

For print newspapers, including the page number is essential. Without it, the reader would have to search through the entire edition to find the cited article. The exact format can vary depending on the citation style (MLA, APA, Chicago, etc.). For instance, MLA might use “p. B1,” while APA might use “p. B1” or “pp. B1, B3” for articles spanning multiple pages. Section designations are important because large newspapers divide content by sections. Online newspaper articles often don’t have page numbers, especially if they are solely published online. In such cases, you would omit the page number. If the online article is a direct reproduction of a print article, look for an indication of the original page number within the online version; some newspapers will include a “Originally published in print on page X” statement. If a Digital Object Identifier (DOI) or permanent URL is available, include that instead of (or sometimes in addition to) the URL.

Is citing an online newspaper article different?

Yes, citing an online newspaper article differs slightly from citing a print version. The core information remains the same – author, article title, newspaper name, date – but online citations require additional elements like the URL and potentially the date of access.

The primary distinction arises because online articles are dynamic. They can be updated, moved, or even removed entirely. Including the URL ensures the reader can locate the specific version you consulted. Specifying the access date, especially for content that might change frequently, provides further context and allows readers to understand the state of the article at the time you used it as a source. Without a URL and access date, the citation is incomplete and may be difficult, if not impossible, to verify.

Specific citation styles (MLA, APA, Chicago, etc.) have nuanced guidelines for online newspaper articles. These guidelines cover how to format the URL (e.g., including “https://” or not), whether to include the publication date online if different from the print version, and the preferred wording for the access date (e.g., “Accessed” or “Retrieved”). Always consult the relevant style guide for the most accurate and up-to-date instructions. If no author is listed, the newspaper itself is usually credited as the author.

And that’s it! You’re now equipped to properly cite newspaper articles, no matter the format. Hopefully, this guide has been helpful and saved you some citation headaches. Thanks for reading, and we hope you’ll come back soon for more easy-to-understand guides on all things citations!