How to Cite Online News Articles
Learn how to create citations for articles from online news websites and digital magazines.
Basic Format
Author, A. A. (Year, Month Day). Title of article. Name of News Site. URL
Note: For articles with DOIs, include the DOI instead of the URL.
Examples with Explanations
Standard Online News Article
Thompson, J. (2023, September 1). Global markets show signs of recovery. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/markets/recovery
- • Include author's name if available
- • Use complete date
- • Include direct URL to the article
- • Omit period after URL
Digital Magazine Article
Lee, S., & Park, J. (2023, August). The rise of artificial intelligence. Digital Tech Magazine. https://www.digitaltechmag.com/ai-rise
- • Include all authors listed
- • Use only month and year for magazines
- • Include publication name
News Website without Author
Tech industry faces new regulations. (2023, July 15). Tech News Daily. https://www.technewsdaily.com/regulations
- • Begin with article title
- • Include full date
- • Maintain standard format for other elements
Special Cases
Online Editorial
The need for climate action [Editorial]. (2023, August 20). The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/climate-editorial
Include [Editorial] after the title for opinion pieces.
Breaking News Updates
Martinez, R. (2023, September 2, 14:30 EDT). Hurricane approaches coast [Live updates]. Weather News. https://www.weathernews.com/hurricane-live
Include time zone for live updates or breaking news when relevant.
Important Notes
- Include retrieval date only for content that may change
- Use permanent or archived links when possible
- Remove tracking parameters from URLs
- Check if article is available in multiple formats
- Verify URL accessibility
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Don't include database information for publicly available articles
- Don't use shortened URLs
- Don't include unnecessary website navigation details
- Don't forget to check for updated versions
- Don't include login-required URLs