How to Source Newspaper Articles

Newspapers can provide firsthand accounts of historical events.

Newspapers make great sources for gathering information about world and local news, political events, business commentary and even arts and entertainment. Newspapers also serve as references for people, places and events from specific dates in the past. With a variety of newspapers available covering local, state and national news, newspapers get their fair share of use. Whether you turn to newspapers as a source for an essay or research paper, it is important to give credit for articles used in your writing. The Modern Language Association provides an easy way to source newspapers articles.

Instructions

1. Write the author's last name, then first name, separated by a comma. End with a period. For example: Smith, David.

2. Quote newspaper article titles after author's names. Capitalize the first word, last word and any important words within article titles. Place quotation marks around the title and end with a period inside the end quotation mark. For example: "Winter Storm Brings Heavy Snow Advisory to Denver Area."

3. Italicize newspaper names. Capitalize the first word, last word and any important words within newspaper names. For example: The Rocky Mountain News or The Portland Tribune. Italicize newspaper names but omit end punctuation after newspaper names.

4. Record dates of newspaper articles. Write the day, month and year. Except for May, June and July, abbreviate months. For example: 13 Jan. 2011. If newspapers have both an early and late edition, note the edition after the date. For example: 3 Oct. 2010 late ed. Add a colon after recording newspaper dates.

5. Record page numbers associated with newspaper articles. For articles covering multiple pages, use a dash between the first and last page. If page numbers include a letter for a section, provide the section information as well. For example: 5--6 or A1--A3. End with a period.

Tips & Warnings

• If a newspaper article does not have an author, skip the author's name and move directly to the article title.

• If newspaper sources go beyond one typed line in a bibliography or works cited section, indent second and third lines of text.

• Organize newspaper articles in alphabetical order within the bibliography or works cited section. Use the author's last name when determining alphabetical order.

• Newspaper names may be italicized or underlined in the Modern Language Association style. Choose one format and remain consistent throughout your paper.

• When sourcing newspaper articles from local newspapers or newspapers that may not be well-known, include the city and abbreviated state name in brackets after the title of the newspaper. For example: [Fountain, CO].

• This format works for the Modern Language Association, or MLA, style. Other style manuals, such as the Chicago Manual of Style and the American Psychological Association, use different formats.

References

• Indiana University: Citing Sources in MLA Style
• Purdue Online Writing Lab: MLA Works Cited: Periodicals