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How to Cite Newspaper Articles From a Database

When writing a book or academic essay, a newspaper article found on an online database is a useful source. When using these articles, you are required to cite them on your works cited page or bibliography, which is the last page in your essay. This is the page used specifically for citing your each of your sources so the reader can find more information if she desires. You will often be asked to write papers in the MLA (Modern Language Association) or APA (American Psychological Association) styles, so it's important to understand the citing differences between the two.

Things You'll Need

  • APA Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 6th edition
  • MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, 7th Edition
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Instructions

  1. MLA

    • 1

      Write the name of the author. This is listed by last name, then first name. For example, this would be Smith, John. If there is more than one author, be sure to list the rest of them by first name, then last name.

      Ex: Smith, John, Jane Doe.

      If the author is unknown, simply begin the citation with the title of the newspaper article.

    • 2

      Write the title of the newspaper article. This needs to be placed in quotations.

      Ex: "U.S. Economy Continues to Take a Tumble."

    • 3

      Cite the newspaper that the article appeared in, followed by the publication date. The title of the newspaper needs to be italicized. The publication date is required to be formatted as (date month. year), with the month abbreviated. Also, be sure to include the page number the article was found in the paper.

      Ex: 10 Dec. 2009

    • 4

      Cite the name of the database where it was found. This name needs to be italicized. Next, include how it was publicized. This could be web, or print, but in this case it would be web. Then, record the date on which you have accessed the article. This date also needs to be formatted as (day month. year).

      Now, your whole MLA citation should appear as:

      Smith, John."U.S. Economy Continues to Takes a Tumble." Los Angeles Times (italicized). 10 Dec. 2009: 10 (page number). Database (italicized). Web. 18 Aug. 2010.

    APA (American Phychological Association)

    • 5

      Cite the author of the article. This has to be written with the last name followed by the first initial of the authors first name.

      Ex: Smith, J.

      If there are multiple authors, list each one of them with the last name and first initials.

      Ex: Smith, J. & Doe, J.

      If the author is unknown, list the citation by the title of the article.

    • 6

      Record the date that the article was published. This is required to be formatted as (2009, December 10).

    • 7

      Cite the title of the newspaper article, followed by the name of the newspaper. Unlike MLA, APA does not require you to place the title of the article in quotation marks. Next, write the title of the newspaper in italics.

      Ex: U.S. Economy Continues to Take a Tumble. Los Angeles Times (Italics)

    • 8

      Record the URL of the database that you found it in. Be sure to show the full address. For example, http://www.database.com/URL/article.

      Now, your whole APA citation should appear as:

      Smith, J. (2009, December 10). U.S. Economy Continues to Take a Tumble. Los Angeles Times (italicized). http://www.database.com/URL/article

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