How to Cite a Newspaper Article in APA, MLA, and Chicago

Learning how to cite a newspaper article correctly matters because newspapers come in several formats (print, online, and database) and each one slightly changes the reference. This guide shows you the exact format for APA 7th, MLA 9th, and Chicago (17th edition) with clear, copyable examples you can adapt to your own source.

What you need before you cite a newspaper article

Whichever style you use, gather these details first. Having them ready prevents the most common citation mistakes.

• Author: the journalist or reporter’s name (some articles have no named author).
• Title of the article: the headline.
• Newspaper name: for example, The New York Times or The Guardian.
• Date of publication: day, month, and year.
• Page number(s): for print articles.
• URL: for articles you read online.

If you collect the same elements every time, switching between styles becomes a matter of rearranging and re-punctuating, not re-researching. A faster route is to enter these details into a free citation generator and let it format the entry, but you should still understand the structure so you can check the output.

How to cite a newspaper article in APA (7th edition)

APA uses the author-date system. The reference list entry follows the order: author, date, title of article, newspaper name (italicized), and a URL if the article is online.

Online newspaper article (APA)

For an article on a newspaper website, italicize the newspaper name and include the full URL. Do not add a retrieval date.

Print newspaper article (APA)

For a print article, replace the URL with the page number or range. Use the abbreviation “p.” for one page and “pp.” for a range.

No named author (APA)

When no author is listed, move the article title to the author position. In the in-text citation, use a shortened title in quotation marks.

For a step-by-step breakdown of the wider style, see our APA format guide, or format your entry directly with the APA citation generator.

How to cite a newspaper article in MLA (9th edition)

MLA uses a works-cited entry built from the MLA template of core elements. The author comes first, then the article title in quotation marks, the newspaper name in italics (this is the “container”), the date, and the location (page number or URL).

Online newspaper article (MLA)

For online articles, end with the URL. MLA 9th edition omits the “https://” protocol but keeps the rest of the web address so readers can find the source. The example below follows that convention.

Print newspaper article (MLA)

For a print article, end with the page number or range. In MLA 9th edition, use “p.” before a single page and “pp.” before a range or non-consecutive pages in the works-cited entry. Note that the page abbreviation is used only in the works-cited entry, never in the in-text citation.

The “A1+” shows the article begins on page A1 and continues on later, non-consecutive pages. If you need the page number in the in-text citation, add it after the author’s name with no comma, as shown above. Learn more in our MLA format guide or use the MLA citation generator.

How to cite a newspaper article in Chicago style (17th edition)

Chicago offers two systems. Notes-Bibliography (common in history and the humanities) uses footnotes plus a bibliography. Author-Date (common in the sciences) uses parenthetical citations plus a reference list. Choose one and stay consistent.

Notes and Bibliography (Chicago)

The footnote and the bibliography entry differ in punctuation and name order. Note the comma after the author’s first name in the note, versus the period and inverted name in the bibliography.

Chicago notes that newspaper articles are often cited only in the notes or in running text and may be left out of the bibliography. Check your assignment to confirm whether a bibliography entry is required.

Author-Date (Chicago)

In the Author-Date system, the year follows the author’s name and the in-text citation is parenthetical.

For the full set of rules, see our Chicago style guide, or build the entry with the Chicago citation generator.

Quick comparison of the three styles

The same article looks different in each style. Here is what changes most often.

• Date format: APA writes (2024, March 15), MLA writes 15 Mar. 2024, and Chicago writes March 15, 2024.
• Article title: APA uses sentence case with no quotation marks. MLA and Chicago use title case inside quotation marks.
• Page abbreviation: APA uses “p.” or “pp.” MLA also uses “p.” or “pp.” in the works-cited entry but uses no abbreviation in the in-text citation. Chicago Notes-Bibliography rarely lists pages for newspapers.
• In-text form: APA and Chicago Author-Date use the year, while MLA uses only the author (and page if quoting).

If your class uses a different style, the same logic applies to Harvard and other systems. For context on why styles differ, read citation styles explained.

Common mistakes to avoid

1. Italicizing the wrong element. In every style here, the newspaper name is italicized, not the article headline.
2. Forgetting the section letter. Many newspapers number pages by section (A1, B3), so include the letter.
3. Adding a retrieval date. APA and MLA do not need a retrieval date for a standard, stable news article.
4. Confusing a newspaper with a magazine or journal. A scholarly source uses a different format. See how to cite a journal article if your source is academic.

When you paraphrase or quote, always pair the reference list entry with the matching in-text citation. Our guide to in-text citations explains how the two parts work together to keep your work honest and to help you avoid plagiarism.

Frequently asked questions

How do I cite a newspaper article with no author?

Move the article title to the author position. In APA, the reference begins with the title followed by the date, and the in-text citation uses a shortened title in quotation marks, such as (“City Council Approves,” 2024). In MLA, begin the works-cited entry with the title and use a shortened title in the in-text citation. In Chicago, start the note and bibliography entry with the title.

Do I cite the print or the online version of a newspaper article?

Cite the version you actually used. If you read the article on the newspaper’s website, use the online format and include the URL. If you read a paper copy, use the print format and include the page number. Do not mix the two, and do not add a URL to a citation of a print copy you held in your hands.

Should I include the section letter or page number?

Yes, for print articles. Newspapers often paginate by section, so a page reference like A1 or B4 helps readers locate the article. In APA, use “p.” or “pp.” before the page. In MLA, list the page after the date, preceded by “p.” for a single page or “pp.” for a range. Online articles usually have no page numbers, so you include the URL instead.

How do I cite an article I found in a library database?

In APA, cite it like an online article but, if there is no stable URL, you may omit the link or use the database URL. In MLA 9th edition, add the database name in italics as a second container before the URL or DOI. In Chicago, include the database name and any stable URL. Following the database publication details keeps your citation accurate even when the article is not on the open web.