Citing sources is an essential part of academic writing, and when it comes to newspapers, the MLA (Modern Language Association) style has specific guidelines to follow. An MLA newspaper citation is a way to credit the original authors of a newspaper article, allowing readers to locate the source themselves. Here’s a breakdown of what you need to know, along with some simple examples.
Basic Components of an MLA Newspaper Citation
When citing a newspaper article in MLA style, you’ll need to include the following elements:
- Author’s Last Name, First Name. (If available)
- “Article Title.” (In title case, enclosed in quotation marks)
- Newspaper Title, (In title case, italicized)
- Date of Publication, (Day Month Year)
- Page Numbers. (If applicable)
- Database or Website Title, (If accessed online, in title case, italicized)
- DOI or URL. (If accessed online)
- Access Date. (If no DOI is provided)
Examples
Printed Newspaper Article
Author’s Last Name, First Name. “Article Title.” Newspaper Title, Day Month Year, pp. Page Numbers.
Example: Johnson, Mary. “New Developments in Renewable Energy.” The New York Times, 12 Mar. 2022, pp. A1-A3.
Online Newspaper Article with DOI
Author’s Last Name, First Name. “Article Title.” Newspaper Title, Day Month Year, pp. Page Numbers, doi: DOI.
Example: Williams, David. “Impact of Climate Change on Biodiversity.” The Washington Post, 20 Jan. 2023, pp. A5-A7, doi: 10.1037/wps032021.
Online Newspaper Article without DOI
Author’s Last Name, First Name. “Article Title.” Newspaper Title, Day Month Year, pp. Page Numbers, Database or Website Title, URL. Accessed Day Month Year.
Example: Brown, Emily. “New Insights into Ancient Civilizations.” The Guardian, 15 Aug. 2022, pp. 10-12, ProQuest, https://www.proquest.com/article.html. Accessed 20 Feb. 2023.
Newspaper Article with No Author
“Article Title.” Newspaper Title, Day Month Year, pp. Page Numbers.
Example: “Market Trends in the Tech Industry.” The Wall Street Journal, 25 Nov. 2022, pp. B1-B3.
Tips for MLA Newspaper Citations
- Always check the MLA Handbook for the most current guidelines, as updates can occur.
- If the newspaper article is found online and the page numbers are not provided, omit them from the citation.
- Use the DOI (Digital Object Identifier) if available, as it provides a permanent link to the article. If no DOI is provided, include the URL and the date of access.
- For articles without an author, start the citation with the title of the article in quotation marks.
By following these guidelines and examples, you can correctly cite newspaper articles in MLA style, ensuring academic integrity and allowing your readers to trace back your sources with ease.
