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News articles provide current events coverage, expert commentary, and historical documentation. Whether you're citing a breaking news story or archival reporting from decades ago, here's how to format newspaper citations.
Print vs. Online
The core elements are similar, but format differs:
- Print: Author, date, article title, newspaper name, page number(s).
- Online: Author, date, article title, newspaper name, URL.
Cite the format you actually accessed.
Quick Reference by Major Style
APA (7th Edition):
Online:
Author, A. A. (Year, Month Day). Title of article. Newspaper Name. URL
Example:
Smith, J. (2024, March 15). City council approves new housing plan. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/15/...
Print:
Author, A. A. (Year, Month Day). Title of article. Newspaper Name, p. X or pp. X-X.
MLA (9th Edition):
Author. "Title of Article." Newspaper Name, Day Month Year, URL or pp. X-X.
Example:
Smith, Jordan. "City Council Approves New Housing Plan." The New York Times, 15 Mar. 2024, www.nytimes.com/2024/03/15/...
Chicago (Notes-Bibliography):
Note:
Jordan Smith, "City Council Approves New Housing Plan," New York Times, March 15, 2024, URL.
Bibliography:
Smith, Jordan. "City Council Approves New Housing Plan." New York Times, March 15, 2024. URL.
Articles Without Authors
Many news articles lack bylines. Start with the article title:
APA:
Title of article. (Year, Month Day). Newspaper Name. URL
MLA:
"Title of Article." Newspaper Name, Day Month Year, URL.
Chicago:
"Title of Article," Newspaper Name, Month Day, Year, URL.
Wire Service Articles (AP, Reuters)
For articles from news agencies:
Associated Press. (2024, March 15). Title of article. Newspaper Name. URL
The wire service is the author; the newspaper is where you accessed it.
Newspaper Names
Include "The" if it's part of the official name: The New York Times, The Washington Post.
Some styles drop "The" in citations—check your guide.
For less recognizable papers, add the city if not in the name:
Star Tribune (Minneapolis)
Page Numbers for Print
- Single page: p. A1
- Multiple pages: pp. A1, A4 (for discontinuous) or pp. A1-A4 (continuous)
- Section and page: p. B3 or Section B, p. 3
Include section letters when newspapers use them.
Editions
If citing a specific edition (morning, late, national):
The New York Times, late ed., March 15, 2024, p. A1.
This matters for historical research where editions may differ.
Historical Newspapers
Older articles from archives or databases:
APA:
Author, A. A. (Year, Month Day). Title of article. Newspaper Name, p. X. Database Name.
MLA:
Author. "Title." Newspaper Name, Day Month Year, p. X. Database Name.
Include the database (ProQuest Historical Newspapers, Newspapers.com, etc.) if that's how you accessed it.
Op-Eds and Letters to the Editor
Opinion pieces:
Author, A. A. (Year, Month Day). Title of op-ed [Op-ed]. Newspaper Name. URL
Letters to the editor:
Author, A. A. (Year, Month Day). Title or [Letter to the editor]. Newspaper Name. URL
The bracketed descriptor clarifies the type.
Editorials
Unsigned editorials use the newspaper as author:
The New York Times. (2024, March 15). Editorial title [Editorial]. URL
Or start with the title if preferred by your style guide.
Reviews
For book, film, or other reviews:
Reviewer, A. A. (Year, Month Day). Title of review [Review of Work reviewed, by Author]. Newspaper Name. URL
Newspaper vs. News Website
Some online news sources aren't traditional newspapers. News websites like CNN, BBC, or Vox should be cited as web articles with the site name. Digital-only publications like HuffPost or Politico vary—check if they consider themselves newspapers or magazines.
When in doubt, the citation format is similar: author, date, title, source, URL.
Paywalled Articles
Cite the article normally with its URL. Readers may encounter a paywall, but the URL is still the correct reference. Don't use a workaround URL.
The exact formatting for newspaper citations depends on your required citation style. Check the specific guide for your discipline below.
