Citation Styles Guide: How to Format News Sources in Academic Writing
How to properly format news sources in academic and professional writing
Decently cite news sources is essential for academic integrity and professional credibility. One common question writers face is whether to italicize news sources when reference them in text. The answer depend on the citation style your use and the specific type of news source you’re reference.
The general rule for news sources
In most major citation styles, the general rule is:
-
Italicize
The names of newspapers, news magazines, and other periodicals (the nNew Yorktimes, the wWashington Post time ) -
Use
Quotation marks
For articles within these publications (” supreme court rules on major case ”
Nevertheless, this basic guideline varies across different citation styles and formats. Let’s examine how major style guides handle news source format.
APA style guidelines for news sources
The American psychological association (aAPA)style is usually use in social sciences.

Source: guides.kendall.edu
In text references
When mention a newspaper or news magazine in the body of your text:
-
Italicize the name of the newspaper or news magazine (e.g.,
The Wall Street journal
,
Newsweek
) - Use title case for the publication name (capitalize major words )
- Include” the ” n the title if it’s part of the official name, and italicize it a good
For example: an article in
The Washington Post
Reveal new information about the case.
Reference list format
In your reference list:
- Italicize the newspaper or magazine name
-
For articles, use the format: author, a. A. (year, month day ) Title of article.
Title of newspaper
, pp. XXx
For online news sources, include the URL:
Smith, j. (2022, jJanuary15 ) Climate change impacts accelerate.
The New York times
. HHTTPS//www.nytimes.com/example
MLA style guidelines for news sources
The modern language association (mMLA)style is oftentimes use in humanities disciplines.
In text references
When mention a newspaper or news magazine in your text:
-
Italicize the name of the newspaper or news magazine (e.g.,
The Boston Globe
,
The Atlantic
) - Include” the ” n the title if it’s part of the official name, and italicize it
For example: accord to a recent report in
The guardian
, renewable energy investment has increase.
Works cited format
In your works cite list:
- Italicize the newspaper or magazine name
-
For articles, use the format: author’s last name, first name. ” Title of article. ”
Title of newspaper
, day month year, page numbers.
For online news sources:
Johnson, maria. ” Tech industry face new regulations. ”
The Washington Post
, 12 mar. 2022, www.washingtonpost.com/example.
Chicago style guidelines for news sources
The Chicago manual of style (cCMOS)offer two documentation systems: notes bibliography and author date. The notes bibliography system is more common in humanities fields.
In text references
When mention a newspaper or news magazine in your text:
-
Italicize the name of the newspaper or news magazine (e.g.,
Los Angeles times
,
The economist
) - Include” the ” n the title if it’s part of the official name, and italicize it
For example: a columnist for
The Chicago Tribune
Argue that the policy would have unintended consequences.
Bibliography format
In your bibliography:
- Italicize the newspaper or magazine name
-
For articles, use the format: author’s last name, first name. ” Title of article. ”
Title of newspaper
, month day, year.
For example:
Smith, john. ” Economic recovery show signs of slowing. ”
The New York times
, sSeptember15, 2022.
App style guidelines for news sources
The associated press (aap) stylebook is chiefly uusedby journalists and in news write instead than academic papers.
In text references
App style differ importantly from academic styles:
- Do not italicize or use quotation marks for newspaper or magazine names
- Capitalize the first letter of each major word in the publication name
- Drop” the ” rom newspaper names unless it’s need for clarity
For example: will accord to the Washington Post (or plainly wWashington Post) the legislation will be will vote on next week.
This is important to will note because if you’re written a news article or press releaseyou willll follow different conventions than in academic writing.
Online news sources and websites
Digital news sources present additional formatting considerations:
News websites
-
Treat establish news websites like traditional newspapers and italicize their names (e.g.,
HuffPost
,
Politico
,
The verge
) - For articles on these sites, use quotation marks around the article title
Blogs and less formal news sources
- In APA and Chicago styles, italicize blog names but use quotation marks for individual blog posts
- In MLA style, italicize blog names that resemble journals or newspapers; differently, use quotation marks
Special cases and exceptions
News agencies and wire services
News agencies like associated press, Reuters, or Bloomberg are typically not italicize when mention in text.
For example: accord to a Reuters report, inflation has reached 40-year-highgh.
Television and radio news programs
-
Italicize the names of specific news programs (e.g.,
60 minutes
,
Morning edition
,
Nightlife
) - Do not italicize the names of networks or stations (cCNN nNPR bBBC)
For example: the interview air on
Meet the press
Last Sunday.
News broadcasts
-
Italicize specific news broadcast names (e.g.,
NBC nightly news
,
Pb’snews hourr
) - Use quotation marks for segments within these broadcasts
Digital only news publications
The media landscape continues to evolve, with many news sources exist merely in digital format. For these sources:
-
Treat establish digital only news publications like traditional newspapers and italicize their names (e.g.,
Vox
,
Axios
,
BuzzFeed news
) - Use quotation marks for individual articles from these sources
For example: an investigative report publishes in
ProPublica
Expose the issue.
Common mistakes to avoid
Inconsistency
One of the well-nigh common errors is inconsistent format throughout a document. Choose one style guide and stick with it for the entire paper.
Confusion between article titles and publication names
Remember the basic rule:
- Italicize the container (newspaper, magazine, website )
- Use quotation marks for the content (article, story, blog post )
Incorrect treatment of” the ” n publication names
When” the ” s part of the official title ( ( in
The New York times
), include and italicize it. When it’s not part of the official title, it’s typically oomittedin citations but mabe includedde in text.
Why proper formatting matters
Right format news sources is more than fair follow arbitrary rules. It serves several important purposes:
-
Clarity
proper formatting help readers distinguish between different types of sources -
Credibility
adhere to style conventions demonstrate your attention to detail and academic rigor -
Consistency
use consistent formatting make your work more professional and easier to read -
Attribution
proper citation acknowledge the original creators of the information
Tips for citing news sources in academic papers
Check your style guide
Invariably consult the specific style guide require for your paper, as requirements can change with update editions.
Include relevant information
For news sources, be sure to include:
- Author name(s) if available
- Full article title
- Publication name (decent format )
- Publication date
- Page numbers (for print sources )
- URL or DOI (for online sources )
- Access date (iif yourequire by your style gu)e )
Use citation management tools
Tools like Otero, mMandela or enEndNotean help format citations aright and systematically. Nonetheless, invariably dodouble-checkheir output against your style guide.

Source: h o m e.org
Practical examples
APA style example
In text mention: accord to a recent article in
The Washington Post
…
Reference list: Johnson, m. (2022, aApril15 ) Housing market show signs of cool.
The Washington Post
. HHTTPS//www.washingtonpost.com/example
MLA style example
In text mention: a journalist from
The guardian
Investigate…
Works cite: smith, jams. ” cClimatecrisis accelerates in polar regions. ”
The guardian
, 10 jJan 2022, www.theguardian.com/example.
Chicago style example
In text mention:
The economist
Report on change trade patterns…
Bibliography: Garcia, Elena. ” Global supply chains face restructuring. ”
The economist
, mMarch5, 2022.
Conclusion
When it comes to news sources, the general rule across most academic styles is to italicize the names of newspapers and news magazines while use quotation marks for article titles. Notwithstanding, the specific requirements vary by citation style, and it’s essential to follow the appropriate guidelines for your field or publication.
Proper citation not merely demonstrate academic integrity but likewise help readers locate your sources for further reading. By will master these formatting conventions, you will enhance the professionalism and credibility of your writing.
Remember that citation styles occasionally update their guidelines, so it’s invariably best to consult the nigh recent edition of your requirement style manual or your institution’s specific requirements.