In the digital age, online news sources have become indispensable for research and academic writing. Accurately citing these sources is crucial for maintaining academic integrity and giving proper credit. This guide, adapted from the Purdue University Online Writing Lab (OWL), focuses on the essential elements for creating robust and correct citations for online news within the American Psychological Association (APA) 7th edition style. Mastering these elements will ensure your reference lists are both comprehensive and compliant with academic standards.
Understanding APA 7th Edition for Online News Citations
The 7th edition of the APA Publication Manual has simplified and updated guidelines for citing electronic sources, including online news. Key changes aim to streamline citations and prioritize digital accessibility. Understanding these updates is the first step in correctly referencing online news articles and websites in your work.
Key Updates in APA 7th Edition for Online Sources
APA 7th edition has moved away from some outdated practices, making citations cleaner and more user-friendly. Notably, the phrase “Retrieved from” is generally no longer required before URLs or DOIs. This change reflects the increased stability and accessibility of online content. However, retrieval dates are still necessary for unarchived sources where the content is likely to change, emphasizing the importance of citing the specific version of the source you consulted.
Why Accurate Citations Matter for Online News
Citing sources correctly, especially online news, is not just about avoiding plagiarism. It’s about:
- Credibility: Demonstrating the research basis of your work and lending authority to your arguments.
- Transparency: Allowing readers to easily locate and verify the sources you used.
- Respect for Intellectual Property: Acknowledging the work of journalists and news organizations.
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO) for your work (indirectly): While your reference list isn’t directly for SEO, well-structured and accurate citations contribute to the overall quality and trustworthiness of your content, which search engines value.
7 Essential Elements for Citing Online News in APA 7th Edition
To effectively cite online news sources, focus on these seven core elements. These components provide a framework for constructing accurate and informative citations, whether you are referencing a news article from a major publication or a smaller online news site.
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Author Information: Identify the author of the news article if available. This could be an individual journalist or a news organization. If no individual author is named, use the news organization’s name as the author.
- Individual Author: Start with the last name, followed by initials (e.g., Richards, C.).
- Group/Organization Author: Use the full name of the organization (e.g., Washington Post).
- No Author: If no author is listed, begin the citation with the title of the article.
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Date of Publication: Provide the year, month, and date the news article was published. This ensures the citation is timely and specific.
- Format: (Year, Month Date). For example, (2019, December 9).
- No Date: If no publication date is available, use “(n.d.)” for “no date.” However, for news sources, dates are usually readily available.
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Title of the Article: Include the full title of the news article. Formatting depends on whether the source is from a site associated with a print newspaper or an independent online news site.
- Newspaper-Associated Site: Do not italicize the article title (e.g., Best music of 2019: Lana Del Rey sings lullabies about the end of America).
- Independent Online News Site: Italicize the article title (e.g., Why flats dominate Spain’s housing market).
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Title of the Publication (or Website Name): Specify the name of the news publication or website. The formatting here also depends on the type of online news source.
- Newspaper-Associated Site: Italicize the title of the newspaper (e.g., Washington Post).
- Independent Online News Site: Do not italicize the name of the publishing website (e.g., BBC). If the author and site name are the same, omit the site name to avoid redundancy.
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URL: Provide the direct URL to the news article. In APA 7th edition, URLs are presented directly without “Retrieved from” unless the source is unarchived and likely to change.
- Direct Link: Ensure the URL leads directly to the cited article and is not a general homepage.
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Retrieval Dates (When Necessary): Include a retrieval date only if the online news source is unarchived and subject to change. For most established online news sites, retrieval dates are not necessary as articles are generally archived. However, for rapidly updating news feeds or sources known for changing content, including a retrieval date is advisable.
- Format (if required): Retrieved Month Date, Year, from URL (e.g., Retrieved March 18, 2020, from [URL]).
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Specific Source Type Considerations: Be mindful of the type of online news source. Is it from a well-established newspaper’s website, a blog-style news site, or a news aggregator? While the core elements remain the same, understanding the source helps in correctly applying the formatting rules, particularly regarding italicization of titles.
Examples of Citing Online News Articles in APA 7th Edition
Let’s look at examples based on the APA 7th edition guidelines, drawing from the original Purdue OWL article and applying the “7 Online News” focus.
Example 1: News Article from a Site with an Associated Newspaper (Washington Post)
Richards, C. (2019, December 9). Best music of 2019: Lana Del Rey sings lullabies about the end of America. *Washington Post*. https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/music/best-music-of-2019-lana-del-rey-sings-lullabies-about-the-end-of-america/2019/12/06/6e82c5ec-15d8-11ea-a659-7d69641c6ff7_story.htmlAnalysis:
- Author: Individual author “C. Richards” is identified.
- Date: Full date (2019, December 9) is provided.
- Article Title: “Best music of 2019: Lana Del Rey sings lullabies about the end of America” – not italicized as it’s from a newspaper site.
- Publication Title: Washington Post – italicized as it’s the newspaper title.
- URL: Direct URL to the article is included.
Example 2: News Article from an Independent Online News Website (BBC)
Jones, J. (2020, May 10). *Why flats dominate Spain's housing market*. BBC. https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20200506-why-do-flats-dominate-spains-housing-marketAnalysis:
- Author: Individual author “J. Jones” is identified.
- Date: Full date (2020, May 10) is provided.
- Article Title: “Why flats dominate Spain’s housing market” – italicized as it’s from an independent online news site.
- Publication Title: BBC – not italicized as it’s the website name (and not associated with a print newspaper title in this context).
- URL: Direct URL to the article is included.
Example 3: News Article with Organizational Author (ASPCA)
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. (2019, November 21). *Justice served: Case closed for over 40 dogfighting victims*. https://www.aspca.org/news/justice-served-case-closed-over-40-dogfighting-victimsAnalysis:
- Author: Organizational author “American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals” is used.
- Date: Full date (2019, November 21) is provided.
- Article Title: “Justice served: Case closed for over 40 dogfighting victims” – italicized as it’s treated as online content from an organization’s website (similar to an independent online news site in terms of title formatting).
- Publication Title: Omitted as the author and site name are essentially the same (ASPCA website).
- URL: Direct URL to the article is included.
Alt text: Example of an online news article citation in APA 7th edition format, focusing on author, date, title, and URL.
Best Practices for Citing Online Sources and Enhancing E-E-A-T
Beyond the core elements, consider these best practices to ensure your citations are robust and contribute to the credibility of your work:
- Accuracy is Paramount: Double-check all citation details, especially URLs, to ensure accuracy and ease of access for readers.
- Consistency: Maintain consistent formatting throughout your reference list, adhering strictly to APA 7th edition guidelines.
- Use Official Guides: Refer to the official APA Publication Manual or reputable sources like the Purdue OWL for the most accurate and up-to-date information.
- Favor DOIs when Available: For scholarly news sources or articles with Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs), use the DOI instead of the URL for increased link stability. However, for most online news, URLs are the standard.
- Be Mindful of Source Type: Distinguish between different types of online news sources (newspaper sites, independent sites, blogs) to apply formatting rules correctly.
By focusing on these 7 key elements and adhering to best practices, you can confidently and accurately cite online news sources in APA 7th edition. This meticulous approach not only strengthens your academic work but also demonstrates a commitment to clear communication and academic integrity in the digital information age.
Alt text: Purdue OWL logo, a trusted resource for APA 7th edition citation guidelines and academic writing support.
