How to Cite Digital News Articles (APA, MLA & Chicago Styles Explained)

Every day, millions read online news from websites and apps. Many of those articles become part of school essays, research papers, or blog posts. But when you quote or reference them, you need to cite them the right way. Proper citation shows respect for the writer, helps readers find your source, and keeps your work honest and trustworthy.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to cite digital news articles using the three main citation styles (APA, MLA, and Chicago). You’ll also see examples, find easy-to-follow tips, and get a checklist to make sure every citation is correct before you submit your work.

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Why Citing Digital News Matters

Citing online news isn’t just about following school rules. It protects your credibility and shows academic honesty.

• It gives credit. Journalists, editors, and photographers deserve recognition.

• It helps readers verify facts. A clear citation lets them check your source quickly.

• It builds trust. Teachers and editors see that your information is reliable.

• It prevents plagiarism. Forgetting to cite can look like stealing someone’s work.

Today, digital news changes fast. Articles can be updated or deleted. By citing the author, date, title, outlet, and URL, you preserve a trail that others can follow.

<ProTip title="💡 Pro Tip:" description="Always copy the author, date, and URL as soon as you find an article. Links can change later." />

The Three Major Citation Styles

Let’s look at how each citation style handles digital news. These examples use imaginary but realistic articles.

1. APA Style (7th Edition)

Purpose: Used mostly in social sciences (psychology, education, sociology).
Focus: The date of publication is important because information changes over time.

Basic Format

Author, A. A. (Year, Month Day). Title of article. *Title of Newspaper*. URL

Example

Lopez, R. (2025, March 4). Ocean cleanup robots start new wave of innovation. Green City Times. https://www.greencitytimes.com/articles/ocean-cleanup-robots

Key Rules

• Only the first word of the title and proper nouns are capitalized.

• The newspaper name is italicized.

• Include the URL, but no retrieval date unless the page changes often.

<ProTip title="💡 Note:" description="APA uses sentence case for article titles but title case for the newspaper name." />

In-text Citation

(Lopez, 2025)

When to Use APA

Use APA if you write for subjects that care about when data was published, such as social science or education reports.

2. MLA Style (9th Edition)

Purpose: Common in humanities (literature, arts, philosophy).
Focus: The author and source details show credibility.

Basic Format

Author Last Name, First Name. "Title of Article." *Title of Newspaper*, Date of Publication, URL.

Example

Nguyen, Tara. "Young farmers embrace smart irrigation apps." Daily Global, 12 April 2025, dailyglobal.com/news/farmers-smart-irrigation.

Key Rules

• Put the article title in quotation marks.

• Italicize the newspaper name.

• Drop “http://” or “https://” for a cleaner URL.

• Include the full publication date (day month year).

<ProTip title="📝 Reminder:" description="If no author is listed in MLA, start the entry with the article title instead." />

3. Chicago Style (Author-Date or Notes and Bibliography)

Purpose: Common in history and other research-heavy fields.
Focus: Flexibility, you can cite in notes or author-date format.

Basic Format (Author-Date Style)

Author Last Name, First Name. Year. "Title of Article." *Title of Newspaper*, Month Day. URL.

Example

Hernandez, Leo. 2025. "Electric buses cut city pollution levels." World Chronicle, May 8. https://www.worldchronicle.org/environment/electric-buses.

Notes and Bibliography Version

1. Leo Hernandez, "Electric buses cut city pollution levels," World Chronicle, May 8, 2025, https://www.worldchronicle.org/environment/electric-buses.

Key Rules

• Use quotation marks for article titles.

• Italicize the newspaper name.

• Include the URL.

• Bibliography entries list author first name then last name.

<ProTip title="💡 Pro Tip:" description="If the article is short or not central, you can cite it only in a footnote and skip the bibliography." />

When to Use Chicago

Use Chicago if you write for history, journalism, or academic research with footnotes and long reference lists.

Comparison Table

What This Means for You

• If you want to show when something was published → use APA.

• If you focus on who said it → use MLA.

• If you need footnotes or academic depth → use Chicago.

Common Citation Mistakes to Avoid

Many students lose marks for small citation errors. Here’s how to avoid them.

1. Forgetting the Author

If there’s no author, start with the title. Never write “Anonymous” unless the article says so.

2. Missing Full Date

Use the complete date (Year, Month Day). News changes fast and the date shows relevance.

3. Wrong Capitalization

APA uses sentence case, while MLA and Chicago use title case. Mixing them is a common error.

4. Skipping Italicization

Always italicize the newspaper name (The Times, Daily Global). It marks it as a publication title.

5. Broken or Redirected URLs

Check your links before submission. If it’s behind a paywall, keep the main URL.

6. Using Retrieval Dates Incorrectly

Only add a retrieval date if the page is updated regularly (live news feeds, COVID dashboards). See APA Style Example.

<ProTip title="🔍 Quick Check:" description="Before you finish, click every URL to confirm it works and leads to the original article." />

Choosing the Right Style for Your Project

Use this simple decision framework to decide.

• Your Subject Area
  
  

  • Social Sciences → APA
    
    

  • Arts & Humanities → MLA
    
    

  • History or Cross-disciplinary Research → Chicago
    
    

• Your Audience
  
  

  • Teachers and professors → follow their instructions.
    
    

  • Blog readers → MLA often looks clean and readable.
    
    

• Your Focus
  
  

  • Emphasizing timeliness → APA.
    
    

  • Highlighting author credibility → MLA.
    
    

  • Needing detailed footnotes → Chicago.

<ProTip title="💬 Tip:" description="When in doubt, check your assignment rubric or editor guide for required citation style." />

How Digital News Citations Differ from Print

Print newspapers once used page numbers and city editions. Digital articles don’t. Here’s how you adjust for modern sources:

Digital sources also require attention to URLs and updates. Some outlets edit stories after publishing.  That’s why noting the exact publication date matters.

<ProTip title="📅 Pro Tip:" description="If an article shows both “Published” and “Updated” dates, use the published date unless your teacher says otherwise." />

Step-by-Step Example: Creating a Citation

Let’s walk through a realistic example from start to finish.

Article:

Title: “Solar rooftops transform suburban energy”
Author: Mina Desai
Publisher: Urban Light News
Date: February 15, 2025
URL: https://www.urbanlightnews.com/energy/solar-rooftops-transform

APA

Desai, M. (2025, February 15). Solar rooftops transform suburban energy. Urban Light News. https://www.urbanlightnews.com/energy/solar-rooftops-transform

MLA

Desai, Mina. "Solar rooftops transform suburban energy." Urban Light News, 15 Feb 2025, urbanlightnews.com/energy/solar-rooftops-transform.

Chicago (Author-Date)

Desai, Mina. 2025. "Solar rooftops transform suburban energy." Urban Light News, February 15. https://www.urbanlightnews.com/energy/solar-rooftops-transform.

See how the order and punctuation change slightly between styles? That’s why following your chosen guide closely is so important.

Before You Submit: Final Checklist

Use this quick list to confirm your citations are perfect.

• Correct author spelling and initials.

• Full date included (Year, Month, Day).

• Article title matches the original.

• Newspaper name italicized and capitalized.

• URL works and leads to the right page.

• Citation style is consistent throughout.

• In-text citations match bibliography entries.

• Punctuation and quotation marks are correct.

• Access date noted if the article updates often.

<ProTip title="✅ Reminder:" description="Print this checklist and keep it next to your computer when writing your next assignment." />

Master Citing Digital News Articles with Confidence

Citing digital news articles is a simple skill that protects your credibility and keeps your work honest. Now you know how to handle APA, MLA, and Chicago styles, how to format each entry, and how to avoid the most common mistakes. Always capture full details early, follow the rules of your chosen style, and double-check your URLs.

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When you cite carefully, your writing looks professional, your readers trust you more, and your teachers see that you take accuracy seriously.

Citing correctly is more than a rule, it’s a sign of respect for truth and good journalism.