Navigating the specifics of how to cite a newspaper article can feel overwhelming, but the Chicago Manual of Style provides a clear and structured system to ensure academic integrity. Whether you are working on a history paper, a journalism critique, or a political science analysis, mastering these citations is essential. This guide breaks down the process into manageable steps, covering both the Notes and Bibliography system, which is the most common format for citing newspapers in Chicago style.
Understanding the Two Documentation Systems
Before diving into the specific format for a newspaper, it is important to understand that Chicago offers two distinct documentation systems. The Notes and Bibliography system is preferred in the humanities, using footnotes or endnotes for citations and a separate bibliography. The Author-Date system, common in the sciences, uses parenthetical in-text citations. For newspaper articles, the Notes and Bibliography approach is typically the standard, as it allows for more nuanced attribution and source description.
Formatting the Footnote or Endnote
The first time you cite a newspaper article in your text, you will create a footnote or endnote that includes specific details to lead your reader to the source. The basic order is as follows: the author's first name followed by their last name, the title of the article in quotation marks, the name of the newspaper in italics, the date of publication, and the URL or page number. If the article does not have an author, you begin the citation with the title.
Examples for Print and Online Articles
Seeing the format in action is often the most effective way to understand it. For a standard online article with an author, the note should look like this: John Smith, "Local Community Sees Rise in Volunteerism," *Chicago Tribune*, March 15, 2023, https://www.chicagotribune.com/local-community-volunteerism.
For a print newspaper article, or if there is no URL available, you include the page number at the end. For example: Jane Doe, "Debate on Urban Planning Intensifies," *The New York Times*, November 20, 2022, A12. If the article spans multiple pages, you would use "A12-A13."
Constructing the Bibliography Entry
While the note provides the immediate citation, the bibliography at the end of your work offers a complete list of all sources. The bibliography entry for a newspaper article differs slightly from the note, placing the author's name in reverse order (last name, first name) and using a hanging indent for readability. The goal is to provide enough information for a reader to locate the exact version of the article you consulted.
Using the same examples as before, the bibliography entry for the online article would be: Smith, John. "Local Community Sees Rise in Volunteerism." *Chicago Tribune*, March 15, 2023. https://www.chicagotribune.com/local-community-volunteerism.
For the print article, the entry would be: Doe, Jane. "Debate on Urban Planning Intensifies." *The New York Times*, November 20, 2022, A12.
Citing Special Cases and Variations
Real-world sources are rarely standard, and the Chicago style accounts for several common variations you might encounter. If a newspaper article lacks a byline, treat the publication as the author. If the article is part of a larger magazine or a weekly news section, cite the publication as a whole rather than just the section. Additionally, if you accessed the article through a database like JSTOR or ProQuest, include the name of the database and a direct URL to the article to ensure others can find the exact version you reviewed.
Mastering these details not only strengthens your arguments but also demonstrates respect for the intellectual property of journalists and writers. By accurately citing your sources, you contribute to a transparent and reliable academic conversation.
