How To Cite An Online News Article APA Style: A Comprehensive Guide

Are you looking to properly credit your sources when writing academic papers or articles, especially when referencing online news articles? This guide, brought to you by gmonline.net, provides a comprehensive overview of how to cite online news articles using the American Psychological Association (APA) style, ensuring accuracy and credibility in your work. We’ll cover various scenarios, from articles with known authors to those without publication dates, helping you master APA citations for online news. Let’s explore the intricacies of APA formatting and referencing.

1. What Is APA Style And Why Is It Important For Citing Sources?

APA Style, developed by the American Psychological Association, is a widely recognized citation style used for academic writing, particularly in the social sciences. It provides a standardized format for referencing sources, promoting clarity, consistency, and credibility in research papers, articles, and other scholarly works. Correctly citing sources helps you avoid plagiarism, gives credit to the original authors, and allows readers to easily locate the sources you used.

1.1. Why Is APA Style Important?

APA Style is important for several reasons:

• Credibility: Using a standardized citation style like APA enhances the credibility of your work. It shows that you have conducted thorough research and are giving proper credit to your sources.
• Avoiding Plagiarism: Proper citation is crucial to avoid plagiarism, which is the act of presenting someone else’s work or ideas as your own. APA Style provides clear guidelines on how to acknowledge sources, ensuring that you are not unintentionally plagiarizing.
• Consistency: APA Style provides a consistent format for citations, making it easier for readers to understand your sources and locate them if they wish to learn more. This consistency is particularly important in academic writing, where clarity and accuracy are paramount.
• Professionalism: Using APA Style demonstrates professionalism and attention to detail. It shows that you are familiar with the conventions of academic writing and are committed to producing high-quality work.

1.2. Key Components Of An APA Citation

An APA citation typically consists of the following elements:

• Author: The name of the person or organization responsible for the work.
• Date: The year the work was published. For online sources, include the month and day if available.
• Title: The title of the work, such as the article or webpage.
• Source: The name of the publication or website where the work was found.
• URL or DOI: The Uniform Resource Locator (URL) or Digital Object Identifier (DOI) of the online source.

1.3. General Guidelines For APA Citations

Before diving into specific examples, here are some general guidelines to keep in mind when creating APA citations:

• Alphabetical Order: Arrange your references in alphabetical order by the first author’s last name.
• Hanging Indent: Use a hanging indent for each citation, where the first line is flush left and subsequent lines are indented.
• Italics: Italicize the title of the publication (e.g., The New York Times) or the title of the article if it’s from a website without an associated newspaper.
• Capitalization: Capitalize the first word of the title, subtitle, and proper nouns.
• Accuracy: Double-check all information for accuracy, including author names, dates, titles, and URLs.

2. How To Cite An Online News Article In APA Format

Citing online news articles in APA format requires careful attention to detail to ensure accuracy and credibility. The format varies slightly depending on whether the news article comes from a website associated with a newspaper or a standalone news site.

2.1. Online News Article From A Website With An Associated Newspaper

When citing an online news article from a website with an associated newspaper, such as The New York Times or The Washington Post, follow this format:

Lastname, F. M. (Year, Month Date). Title of article. *Title of Publication*. URL

Example:

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.html

In this example:

• Richards, C. is the author’s last name and initials.
• (2019, December 9) is the publication date.
• Best music of 2019: Lana Del Rey sings lullabies about the end of America is the title of the article.
• *Washington Post* is the name of the newspaper, italicized.
• 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.html is the URL of the article.

2.2. Online News Article From A Website With No Associated Newspaper

If the online news article comes from a website that is not associated with a newspaper, such as BBC or CNN, use this format:

Lastname, F. M. (Year, Month Date). *Title of article*. Name of publishing website. URL

Example:

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-market

In this example:

• Jones, J. is the author’s last name and initials.
• (2020, May 10) is the publication date.
• *Why flats dominate Spain's housing market* is the title of the article, italicized.
• BBC is the name of the publishing website.
• https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20200506-why-do-flats-dominate-spains-housing-market is the URL of the article.

2.3. Article With No Author

Sometimes, news articles do not list an author. In such cases, start the citation with the title of the article.

Title of article. (Year, Month Date). *Title of Publication*. URL

Example:

New study links video games to improved cognitive skills. (2023, July 15). *Gaming News Online*. https://www.gamingnewsonline.com/new-study-links-video-games-to-improved-cognitive-skills

2.4. Article With No Date

If the article does not have a publication date, use the abbreviation (n.d.) for “no date.”

Lastname, F. M. (n.d.). Title of article. *Title of Publication*. URL

Example:

Smith, J. (n.d.). The rise of esports in America. *Esports Today*. https://www.esportstoday.com/the-rise-of-esports-in-america

2.5. Citing An Article From An Online Archive

If you are citing an article from an online archive, such as ProQuest or JSTOR, include the database name in the citation.

Lastname, F. M. (Year, Month Date). Title of article. *Title of Publication*. Retrieved from Database Name.

Example:

Johnson, L. (2010, March 1). The impact of social media on political campaigns. *Journal of Political Science*. Retrieved from JSTOR.

3. In-Text Citations For Online News Articles In APA Style

In-text citations are used within the body of your paper to briefly identify the source of information. They should correspond to the full citations in your reference list.

3.1. Basic In-Text Citation Format

The basic format for an in-text citation includes the author’s last name and the year of publication.

(Lastname, Year)

Example:

(Richards, 2019)

3.2. In-Text Citation With A Direct Quote

When using a direct quote from an online news article, include the page number or paragraph number, if available. Since online articles often do not have page numbers, use the paragraph number.

(Lastname, Year, para. X)

Example:

(Jones, 2020, para. 3)

3.3. In-Text Citation With No Author

If the article has no author, use the title of the article in the in-text citation.

(Title of Article, Year)

Example:

(New study links video games to improved cognitive skills, 2023)

3.4. In-Text Citation With No Date

If the article has no date, use (n.d.) in the in-text citation.

(Lastname, n.d.)

Example:

(Smith, n.d.)

4. How To Find Key Information For Your Citations

Finding the necessary information for your citations can sometimes be challenging, especially with online sources. Here are some tips on where to look for key details:

4.1. Author Information

The author’s name is typically found at the beginning of the article, often right below the title or in a byline. If the article is written by a group or organization, use the name of the group as the author.

4.2. Publication Date

The publication date is usually located near the author’s name or at the top or bottom of the article. Look for a specific date (Year, Month Day). If only the year is available, use that. If there is no date, use (n.d.).

4.3. Article Title

The article title is the main heading of the news piece. Make sure to capitalize the first word of the title, subtitle, and proper nouns.

4.4. Publication Name

The publication name is the name of the newspaper or website where the article was published. If the website is associated with a newspaper, italicize the name of the newspaper. If it’s a standalone website, do not italicize it.

4.5. URL

The URL is the web address of the article. Copy and paste the full URL from your browser’s address bar.

5. Common Mistakes To Avoid When Citing Online News Articles In APA Style

Even with clear guidelines, it’s easy to make mistakes when citing online news articles. Here are some common errors to avoid:

• Incorrect Formatting: Double-check that you have followed the correct format for the type of source you are citing (e.g., newspaper vs. standalone website).
• Missing Information: Ensure you have included all the necessary information, such as the author, date, title, and URL.
• Inconsistent Citations: Be consistent with your citations throughout your paper. Use the same format for all similar sources.
• Typos and Errors: Proofread your citations carefully for typos, errors in author names, dates, and URLs.
• Not Using Hanging Indent: Make sure each citation has a hanging indent in the reference list.
• Forgetting In-Text Citations: Every source listed in your reference list should have a corresponding in-text citation in the body of your paper.

6. Examples Of APA Citations For Different Types Of Online News

To provide further clarity, here are additional examples of APA citations for various types of online news articles:

6.1. News Article From The New York Times

Grynbaum, M. M. (2024, June 5). New York lawmakers pass bill to ban TikTok from state devices. *The New York Times*. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/05/nyregion/new-york-tiktok-ban.html

6.2. News Article From CNN

Thorbecke, C. (2024, June 6). Blinken says some of Hamas' proposed changes to ceasefire deal are 'not workable'. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2024/06/05/middleeast/blinken-middle-east-trip-hamas-response-intl/index.html

6.3. News Article From A Gaming Website (gmonline.net)

Doe, J. (2024, June 7). The latest trends in online gaming. gmonline.net. https://www.gmonline.net/latest-trends-online-gaming

6.4. News Article With An Organization As The Author

World Health Organization. (2024, June 4). WHO confirms first human case of H9N2 avian influenza in India. https://www.who.int/news/item/04-06-2024-who-confirms-first-human-case-of-h9n2-avian-influenza-in-india

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8. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Citing Online News Articles In APA Style

8.1. How do I cite an online news article with no author in APA?

Start the citation with the title of the article, followed by the date, publication name, and URL.

8.2. What do I do if an online news article doesn’t have a publication date?

Use “(n.d.)” in place of the date in the citation.

8.3. How do I format an in-text citation for an online news article in APA?

Include the author’s last name and year of publication. If there is no author, use the title of the article.

8.4. Should I italicize the title of the article or the name of the publication?

If the article is from a website associated with a newspaper, italicize the name of the newspaper. If it’s from a standalone website, italicize the title of the article.

8.5. Do I need to include a retrieval date for online news articles in APA 7th edition?

In most cases, no. However, include a retrieval date if the content is likely to change over time, such as in wikis or unarchived sources.

8.6. Where can I find the DOI for an online news article?

Online news articles typically do not have DOIs. Use the URL instead.

8.7. What is a hanging indent, and how do I create one in my reference list?

A hanging indent is a formatting style where the first line of a citation is flush left, and subsequent lines are indented. In Microsoft Word, you can create a hanging indent by selecting the citations, right-clicking, choosing “Paragraph,” and then selecting “Hanging” under the “Indentation” section.

8.8. Can I use a shortened URL in my APA citation?

No, always use the full URL in your APA citation.

8.9. How do I cite an online news article that I found through a database?

Include the name of the database in the citation after the publication name.

8.10. What should I do if the author’s name is abbreviated in the article?

Use the abbreviated name as it appears in the article. If you can find the full name, you can use it, but it’s not required.

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10. Conclusion

Mastering APA style for citing online news articles is essential for maintaining credibility and avoiding plagiarism in academic writing. By following the guidelines and examples provided in this comprehensive guide, you can accurately and effectively cite your sources. Remember to pay attention to detail, double-check your information, and stay consistent with your formatting. And for all your gaming news and information needs, rely on gmonline.net to keep you informed and engaged. Happy citing and happy gaming!