Citing news articles is essential for academic integrity. Here’s a general format:
Table of contents
Basic Format
Author, A. A. (Date). Title of article. Title of Newspaper, Page number(s).
Example
Smith, J. (2025, December 11). Local School Board Approves New Budget. The Daily Gazette, A1, A4.
Online Article
Include the URL if the article is from an online source.
Author, A. A. (Date). Title of article. Title of Newspaper. Retrieved from URL
Example: Smith, J. (2025, December 11). Local School Board Approves New Budget. The Daily Gazette. Retrieved from example.com/article
No Author
If no author is listed, start with the title of the article.
Title of article. (Date). Title of Newspaper, Page number(s).
Remember to adapt the format based on your citation style (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.).
Specific Style Guides
While the above provides a general overview, specific style guides have particular requirements. Here’s a brief look at some common ones:
APA Style
APA (American Psychological Association) style emphasizes the author and date. As seen in the examples above, date formatting is crucial (Year, Month Day). APA also requires a DOI (Digital Object Identifier) if available. If no DOI is available and the article was retrieved online, use the URL.
Example with DOI: Smith, J. (2025, December 11). Local School Board Approves New Budget. The Daily Gazette, A1, A4. https://doi.org/10.xxxx/xxxxx
MLA Style
MLA (Modern Language Association) style focuses on the author and the work itself. It typically includes the author’s last name, first name, the article title, the newspaper title, the date, and the URL or page numbers.
Example: Smith, John. “Local School Board Approves New Budget.” The Daily Gazette, 11 Dec. 2025, pp. A1, A4.
Chicago Style
Chicago style offers two variations: Notes and Bibliography and Author-Date. For news articles, the notes and bibliography style is often preferred. This style includes a full note at the first citation and a shortened note for subsequent citations.
Example (Note): 1. John Smith, “Local School Board Approves New Budget,” The Daily Gazette, December 11, 2025, A1.
Example (Bibliography): Smith, John. “Local School Board Approves New Budget.” The Daily Gazette, December 11, 2025.
Important Considerations
- Accuracy: Ensure all information (author name, date, title, page numbers, URL, etc.) is accurate.
- Consistency: Maintain consistency in your chosen citation style throughout your work.
- Database Information: If you accessed the article through a database (e.g., LexisNexis, ProQuest), include the database name in your citation, if required by your chosen style guide.
- Online vs. Print: Clearly differentiate between online and print versions of the article. If it’s online, always include the URL.
- Consult the Style Guide: Always refer to the official style guide for the most up-to-date and specific instructions.
Tools and Resources
Many citation management tools (e.g., Zotero, Mendeley, EndNote) can help you generate citations automatically. However, always double-check the generated citations for accuracy.
By following these guidelines and consulting relevant style guides, you can properly cite news articles in your academic work, ensuring clarity and avoiding plagiarism.
