How to Cite a Newspaper Article in MLA (9th edition)
Learn how to cite print and online newspaper articles in MLA format (9th edition). This guide includes the reference list format, in-text citation examples, and key formatting rules.
MLA Works Cited Format
Here is the standard MLA format for citing a newspaper article in your Works Cited page:
Author Last Name, First Name. "Title of Article." Newspaper Name, Day Month Year, p. #.
MLA Example for a Newspaper Article
A complete MLA reference for a newspaper article, formatted by the official MLA CSL style definition — the same engine that powers the generator on this site:
Novak, Petra. “Universities Rethink the Reading List.” The Daily Register, 3 Sep. 2024, p. A4, https://www.example.org/reading-list. Education.
Matching in-text citation: (Novak)
MLA In-Text Citation
Use one of these formats when referencing this source within your paper:
Parenthetical
(Smith)
Narrative
Smith reports that...
Step-by-Step Guide
- Gather source information: Collect the author name, title, publication date, and URL or DOI for your newspaper article.
- Format the reference: Arrange the elements following the MLA (9th edition) template shown above.
- Create the in-text citation: Add a parenthetical or narrative citation in your paper where you reference this source.
- Add to your Works Cited: Include the full formatted citation at the end of your paper.
- Double-check formatting: Verify italics, punctuation, capitalization, and hanging indents match MLA requirements.
Evidence and review notes
Worked examples are generated by citeproc from the published CSL definition, not written by a language model. Editorial guidance and sources in this section were reviewed on 2026-08-14.
CSL style record: mla.csl
Metadata to collect
- author
- article headline
- newspaper name
- publication date
- page or section, for print
- URL, for online
Common metadata traps
- Cite the print date and page for the print edition and the URL for the online version; do not mix them.
- Credit a wire service or syndicated author when the newspaper did not write the story.
Editorial sources
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I cite a newspaper article in MLA?
- To cite a newspaper article in MLA (9th edition), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.
- What is the MLA format for a newspaper article citation?
- The MLA format for a newspaper article is: Author Last Name, First Name. "Title of Article." Newspaper Name, Day Month Year, p. #.
- What does the in-text citation look like for a newspaper article in MLA?
- In MLA, the in-text citation for the example above is (Smith)
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