How to Cite Magazine and Newspaper Articles in Chicago Style
Citing periodicals like magazines and newspapers in Chicago style requires different formatting than scholarly journals. This comprehensive guide covers both the Notes-Bibliography system (preferred in history and humanities) and Author-Date system (used in social sciences) for citing popular press sources.
Understanding Chicago Style for Popular Periodicals
Chicago Manual of Style distinguishes between scholarly journals and popular periodicals. Magazines and newspapers follow simplified citation formats that reflect their different publication patterns and audience. Unlike journal articles, magazine and newspaper citations often include specific dates rather than just volume and issue numbers.
The choice between Notes-Bibliography and Author-Date systems depends on your academic discipline. History, literature, and art history typically use Notes-Bibliography, while social sciences prefer Author-Date.
Chicago Notes-Bibliography: Magazine Articles
Basic Format for Magazine Articles
Footnote/Endnote (first reference):
First Name Last Name, "Article Title," Magazine Title, Month Day, Year, Page number(s), URL.
Shortened note (subsequent references):
Last Name, "Shortened Title," Page.
Bibliography entry:
Last Name, First Name. "Article Title." Magazine Title, Month Day, Year. URL.
Example: Print Magazine Article
First note:
1. Malcolm Gladwell, "The Trouble with Geniuses," The New Yorker, December 15, 2008, 34.
Shortened note:
2. Gladwell, "Trouble with Geniuses," 36.
Bibliography:
Gladwell, Malcolm. "The Trouble with Geniuses." The New Yorker, December 15, 2008.
Example: Online Magazine Article
Note:
3. Rebecca Solnit, "The Mother of All Questions," Harper's Magazine, October 2015, https://harpers.org/archive/2015/10/the-mother-of-all-questions/.
Bibliography:
Solnit, Rebecca. "The Mother of All Questions." Harper's Magazine, October 2015. https://harpers.org/archive/2015/10/the-mother-of-all-questions/.
Example: Magazine Article with No Author
Note:
4. "The Future of Artificial Intelligence," Time, March 20, 2024, 42-47.
Bibliography:
"The Future of Artificial Intelligence." Time, March 20, 2024.
Chicago Notes-Bibliography: Newspaper Articles
Basic Format for Newspaper Articles
Footnote/Endnote:
First Name Last Name, "Article Title," Newspaper Name, Month Day, Year, edition if applicable, section if applicable.
Bibliography entry:
Newspaper articles cited in notes are usually not included in the bibliography. However, if you cite many articles from one newspaper, you may include the newspaper name in the bibliography.
Example: Print Newspaper Article
Note:
5. David Leonhardt, "The Future of Work in America," New York Times, January 15, 2024, late edition, sec. A.
Example: Online Newspaper Article
Note:
6. Emily Bazelon, "The Problem with Public Shaming," New York Times, February 5, 2026, https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/05/magazine/public-shaming.html.
Example: Newspaper Article with No Author
Note:
7. "Climate Summit Reaches Historic Agreement," Washington Post, December 12, 2023, sec. A.
Example: Newspaper Editorial or Op-Ed
Note:
8. Paul Krugman, "The Economic Case for Climate Action," New York Times, March 10, 2024, https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/10/opinion/climate-economics.html.
Chicago Author-Date: Magazine Articles
Basic Format
In-text citation:
(Author Year, Page)
Reference list entry:
Author, First Name. Year. "Article Title." Magazine Title, Month Day. URL.
Example: Magazine Article
In-text citation:
(Gladwell 2008, 34)
Reference list:
Gladwell, Malcolm. 2008. "The Trouble with Geniuses." The New Yorker, December 15.
Example: Online Magazine Article
In-text citation:
(Solnit 2015)
Reference list:
Solnit, Rebecca. 2015. "The Mother of All Questions." Harper's Magazine, October. https://harpers.org/archive/2015/10/the-mother-of-all-questions/.
Chicago Author-Date: Newspaper Articles
Example: Newspaper Article
In-text citation:
(Leonhardt 2024)
Reference list:
Leonhardt, David. 2024. "The Future of Work in America." New York Times, January 15.
Example: Online Newspaper Article
In-text citation:
(Bazelon 2026)
Reference list:
Bazelon, Emily. 2026. "The Problem with Public Shaming." New York Times, February 5. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/05/magazine/public-shaming.html.
When to Use Each System
| Discipline | Recommended System | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| History | Notes-Bibliography | Allows detailed source context |
| Journalism Studies | Notes-Bibliography | Standard for media analysis |
| Literature | Notes-Bibliography | Humanities preference |
| Communication Studies | Author-Date | Social science standard |
| Political Science | Author-Date | Emphasizes publication date |
| Sociology | Author-Date | Current research focus |
Common Errors to Avoid
1. Confusing Magazines and Scholarly Journals
Magazines use specific publication dates (e.g., "March 15, 2024") while scholarly journals use volume and issue numbers. Popular magazines like Time, The New Yorker, and The Atlantic follow magazine format, not journal format.
2. Including Unnecessary Page Numbers
For online newspaper and magazine articles, page numbers are often unavailable and should be omitted. Include page numbers only when citing print versions with stable pagination.
3. Over-Citing Newspaper Articles in Bibliography
In Notes-Bibliography style, newspaper articles are typically cited only in notes, not in the bibliography, unless you've referenced many articles from the same publication.
4. Wrong Date Format
Use full dates for magazines and newspapers (Month Day, Year), not just the year as you would with books. This helps readers locate the specific issue.
5. Missing Edition Information for Newspapers
For major newspapers with multiple daily editions (late edition, national edition), include this information when available, especially for print citations.
6. Incorrect Italicization
The publication name (magazine or newspaper title) is italicized, but the article title appears in quotation marks.
Special Cases and Considerations
Magazine Articles from Databases
Chicago style generally does not require database names for magazine or newspaper articles accessed through library databases. Simply cite as you would the original source, adding a URL if the article is freely available online.
Book Reviews in Magazines or Newspapers
Note:
9. Michiko Kakutani, "A Story of Revolution and Renewal," review of The Return, by Hisham Matar, New York Times, June 20, 2016.
Letters to the Editor
Note:
10. Sarah Johnson, letter to the editor, Washington Post, January 10, 2024.
Sunday Magazine Supplements
Note:
11. Amanda Hess, "The Long History of Cancel Culture," New York Times Magazine, December 8, 2019, 38.
Tips for Using Popular Press Sources
When incorporating magazine and newspaper articles into academic work, particularly in history and humanities, consider the publication's credibility and relevance. Major newspapers like The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Guardian are considered reputable sources for current events and contemporary analysis.
For historical research, newspaper articles serve as valuable primary sources, offering contemporary perspectives on past events. When citing historical newspapers, include as much publication information as possible, including edition and section details.
Magazine articles from long-form journalism publications like The New Yorker, The Atlantic, or Harper's Magazine can provide in-depth analysis suitable for academic citation, especially in cultural studies and contemporary history.
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