How to Cite a Press Release in MLA Format

Proper citation is an essential component to any valid research paper. Press releases are a common source of information, yet often they are incorrectly cited because of the varying ways in which they are issued to the public. Press releases can be issued from a private party either directly through a spokesperson to a correspondent, or released through a print or electronic format. Additionally, press releases may come from a spokesperson or may be issued anonymously. All these forms require a specific method of citation that follows the guidelines of the MLA format.

Instructions

1. Choose which fragment of the press release you wish to cite. If the fragment is longer than three lines, the quote should be separated from the body of the article by a double-space at the beginning and end. The quote should be indented, single-spaced and not bracketed by quotation marks. If the quote is three lines or shorter, it should be in the body of the article, bracketed by quotation marks.

2. Cite a press release acquired through a direct correspondence in the following manner: name of spokesperson interviewed. Date interviewed. Example: Hamilton, John. March 3, 2005.

3. Cite a press release acquired through a printed transcript in the following manner:
   name of spokesperson/author. Title of press release. Date of issue. Name of organization or institution sponsoring or associated with press release. Medium.
   Example: Hamilton, John. "New Budget Approval." March 4, 2005. Office of Economic Activity. Print.

4. Cite a press release issued electronically in the following manner: name of spokesperson/author. Title or description of press release. Name of organization or institution issuing the press release. Date of publication/posting date/update. Medium. Date of access. <URL>
   Example: Hamilton, John. "New Budget Approval." Office of Economic Activity. March 3, 2005. Web. August 21, 2008. <www.economicaction.gov>

5. Cite a press release acquired through a previously taped recording in the following manner: name of spokesperson. Title of press release. Date recorded. Name of organization or institution issuing or associated with press release. Medium (tape, CD). Manufacturer, year of issue. Example: Hamilton, John. "New Budget Approval." March 4, 2005. Office of Economic Activity. MP3. Columbia, 2008.

6. Cite a press release issued by the government in the following manner: name of the government office issuing or associated with press release. Subcommittee of government office. Title of press release, home state of the chairman of subcommittee (if applicable). Session (if released from Congress). Government department issuing the statement, date issued. Medium. Example: United States. Congress. Subcommittee on Finance. New Budget Approval, Massachusetts. 101st Cong., 1st sess. Washington: GPO, 1989. Print.

Tips & Warnings

• Most government press releases, regardless of the department they are associated with, come from the Government Printing Office (GPO).

• Except for personal correspondence, all citations for the press release should be included in the reference section of the article.

• MLA style may be updated periodically. Verify that the citation you are using complies with the most current guidelines.

Resources

• Lonestar.edu: MLA Works Cited Documentation Guide (2009)