Newspaper articles offer valuable perspectives on various topics, making them dominant resources for researchers, students, and other professionals. Given their importance, it’s essential to know how to cite them accurately in academic writing. The three most common citation styles, APA, MLA, and Chicago, share some article’s elements, such as the title, the publication date, and the author. However, there are also differences. Keep reading to understand the nuances of newspaper citation.

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MLA style logo How to Cite a Newspaper Article in MLA

In the Modern Language Association (MLA) format, citing a newspaper article involves including the author’s name, the title of the article (in quotation marks), the newspaper’s name (italicized), the publication date, and a URL if accessed online.

MLA Works Cited Entry format and example

An image of a newspaper article citation in Chicago

MLA In-Text citation example

In MLA format, in-text citations require the author’s last name and the page number without any comma separating them. If the source does not have page numbers, you only include the author’s last name. For online articles where page numbers are not applicable, the author’s name alone suffices.

(Hernandez A4)

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APA style logo How to Cite a Newspaper Article in APA

The American Psychological Association (APA) style requires the author’s surname and initials, the publication year, the article title (in plain text with sentence capitalization), the newspaper’s name (italicized), and a URL for online sources.

APA Reference Entry format and example

An image of a newspaper article citation in APA

In-Text Citation Example

APA style requires the author’s last name and the year of publication for in-text citations. If you’re directly quoting or referring to a specific part of the text, you should also include the page number or paragraph number for non-paginated content.

(Hernandez, 2024, p. A4)

Chicago style logo How to Cite a Newspaper Article in Chicago

Chicago style typically uses footnotes for citation and does not always include newspaper articles in the bibliography. However, if you need to create a bibliography entry, it should list the author’s name, the article title (in quotation marks), the newspaper’s name (italicized), the publication date, and a URL for online sources.

Chicago Bibliography Entry format and example

How To Cite A Newspaper Article

Chicago Footnote example

In Chicago style, footnotes are used for citation within the text. When you cite a source for the first time, you include a full citation in the footnote. Subsequent citations of the same source can be shortened.

^1 Javier Hernandez, “At the Met Opera, the Show Goes On After a Technical Mishap.” The New York Times, March 20, 2024, https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/20/arts/music/met-opera-turandot-technical- problem.html

FAQ

Can I cite an article without an author?

Yes, you can cite an article without an author by starting with the article title in the citation. For MLA and APA styles, use the title in place of the author’s name. In Chicago style, if the article is anonymous, you begin the footnote or bibliography entry with the article title.

What if the newspaper article is from a database?

If the article is from a database, the citation format is slightly different. For MLA, include the name of the database in italics and the database’s DOI or URL at the end of the citation. For APA, after the article title, include the name of the database in italics and the DOI or URL if available. Chicago style suggests treating articles from databases similarly to web sources but including the database name and any identifier (like a DOI) if available.

Are there any differences in citing a local vs. a national newspaper?

The main difference might be in specifying the edition if it’s relevant or clarifying the publication if its name could be confused with others. For local newspapers not well known outside their region, MLA style suggests adding the city name in square brackets after the newspaper name. APA and Chicago styles do not have specific rules for this but adding context in a similar manner could be helpful for clarity.

What to do if the article spans non-consecutive pages?

For MLA and APA styles, if the article is on non-consecutive pages, list the first page and add a “+” to indicate there are additional pages. For example, “pp. A1+.” Chicago style generally doesn’t include specific page numbers in bibliographic entries. In footnotes, you might simply note it starts on one page and continues on others without specific detail.

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