When citing news articles, include the author’s last name and publication date. If the author is unknown, use the article title. For online articles without page numbers, omit them. Example: (Smith, 2025).
When citing news articles, include the author’s last name and publication date. If the author is unknown, use the article title. For online articles without page numbers, omit them. Example: (Smith, 2025);
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Why is In-Text Citation Important?
In-text citations are crucial for academic integrity and giving credit to the original source of information. They allow readers to easily locate the full source in your bibliography or works cited list, verifying your claims and exploring the topic further. Properly citing news articles demonstrates your research diligence and avoids plagiarism.
Common Citation Styles and In-Text News Article Examples
The specific format of your in-text citation will depend on the citation style you’re using. Here are a few examples:
APA Style
In APA style, use the author’s last name and year of publication. If the author is unknown, use a shortened version of the article title in quotation marks.
- Author Known: (Smith, 2025)
- Author Unknown: (“New Economic Policy,” 2025)
- Direct Quote: (Smith, 2025, p. A3) ─ Include page number if available (usually for print versions). If online, omit the page number.
MLA Style
MLA style also uses the author’s last name and page number (if available). If the author is unknown, use the article title in quotation marks.
- Author Known: (Smith A3)
- Author Unknown: (“New Economic Policy”)
- Online Article: (Smith) ─ When no page numbers are available.
Chicago Style
Chicago style uses footnotes or endnotes for citations. The superscript number in the text corresponds to a numbered entry in the notes section.
Example in text: .;.as reported by Smith.1
Corresponding footnote/endnote:
- John Smith, “Economic Growth Surges,” The Daily News, October 5, 2025.
Specific Scenarios and How to Handle Them
No Author Listed
As mentioned above, use a shortened version of the article title in quotation marks. This allows readers to find the full citation in your bibliography.
Online Articles Without Page Numbers
Most online news articles don’t have page numbers. In this case, simply omit the page number from your in-text citation (APA and MLA style). For Chicago style, the full URL is included in the footnote/endnote.
Citing a Specific Part of a Long Article
If you’re citing a specific point within a long article, you can use paragraph numbers (if available) to help the reader locate the information. For example: (Smith, 2025, para. 5).
Reprinted Articles
If you’re citing an article that was originally published elsewhere, cite the source where you found it. You can also include information about the original publication if it’s relevant.
Accurate and consistent in-text citation is essential for academic writing. By following these guidelines and understanding the nuances of different citation styles, you can properly credit your sources and strengthen the credibility of your work. Always refer to the official style guide for the specific citation style you are using for the most accurate and up-to-date information.
