Are News Articles Italicized or Quoted? Style Guide Rules for Citations

Proper citation formatting remains a crucial skill for writers, students and professionals alike. When it comes to referencing news articles in written work, many people struggle with whether to use italics or quotation marks.

The choice between italics and quotation marks isn’t arbitrary – it follows established style guidelines that help maintain consistency in academic and professional writing. These formatting rules vary depending on whether you’re following AP style, MLA, Chicago Manual of Style, or other writing formats. Each style guide has specific recommendations for handling news article titles in both print and digital formats.

Are News Articles Italicized or Quoted

Citation styles establish specific formatting rules for referencing news articles in academic and professional writing. Different style guides prescribe distinct approaches to handling article titles and publications.

AP Style vs. Chicago Manual of Style

Associated Press (AP) Style formats news article titles in quotation marks without italicizing the publication name. Example: “Global Climate Summit Concludes” in The New York Times. The Chicago Manual of Style takes a different approach:

• Publication names appear in italics: The Washington Post, The Guardian
• Article titles use quotation marks: “Tech Industry Faces New Regulations”
• Web-based articles follow the same format as print articles
• Publication dates appear in parentheses after the title
• URLs appear at the end of citations for online articles

• Article titles appear in quotation marks: “Senate Passes Infrastructure Bill”
• Newspaper names use italics: The Wall Street Journal
• Author names appear first in citations
• Page numbers follow publication names
• Digital articles include access dates
• Database names appear in italics when applicable

Using Quotation Marks for News Article Titles

Quotation marks serve as the standard formatting choice for news article titles across major style guides. This convention applies to both print and digital publications, with specific guidelines for each format.

Print Newspaper Articles

Print newspaper articles require double quotation marks (“”) around the article title in citations or references. The formatting includes:

• Placing the author’s name first, followed by the quoted article title
• Adding the publication date in parentheses after the title
• Including the page number where the article appears
• Writing the newspaper name in italics after the article title

Examples of proper print article formatting:

• Smith, John. “Recent Economic Changes Impact Local Markets” (The Daily News, 2023), A1
• Martinez, Ana. “Climate Study Reveals New Data” (The Morning Post, 2023), B3

Online News Articles

Online news articles follow similar quotation mark rules with additional digital-specific elements:

• Using double quotation marks for the article title
• Including the website name in italics
• Adding the URL at the end of the citation
• Noting the access date for digital content

• Brown, Michael. “Technology Advances in Renewable Energy” (Digital Times Online, accessed October 15, 2023)
• Lee, Sarah. “Global Trade Patterns Shift” (World News Network, retrieved September 28, 2023)

When to Italicize News Sources

Italics play a crucial role in citation formatting for news sources, particularly for publication names and digital platforms. The use of italics varies based on the type of source and the chosen citation style.

Newspaper Names and Publications

Print newspaper names receive italics in academic citations across MLA, APA, and Chicago style guides. The New York Times, The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal appear in italics when referenced in academic writing. Magazine titles like Time, The Atlantic and National Geographic follow this same italicization rule. Proper formatting includes italicizing the complete publication name while omitting “The” from the citation unless it’s an integral part of the title.

Digital News Platforms

Digital news platforms follow specific italicization rules based on their publication format. Major news websites like Reuters.com and CNN.com receive italics in academic citations. Online-only news sources such as BuzzFeed News and HuffPost maintain italicization in their full titles. Social media news channels and digital newsletters integrate italics for their platform names but use quotation marks for individual post titles or article headlines. News aggregator platforms like Google News and Apple News receive italics when cited as source platforms.

Best Practices for Academic Writing

Document Formatting Consistency

Citation formatting remains consistent throughout academic documents, from title page to bibliography. Documents follow these formatting requirements:

• Maintain 1-inch margins on all sides
• Use double-spacing for the main text
• Apply Times New Roman 12-point font
• Include page numbers in the header
• Center titles on the first page

In-Text Citations

In-text citations for news articles incorporate these elements:

• Author’s last name followed by page number (Smith 12)
• Publication year in parentheses for multiple works by same author
• Signal phrases to introduce quotes: “according to” “reports” “notes”
• Shortened titles in quotation marks when no author exists
• Paragraph numbers for online articles without page numbers

Reference List Entries

Reference list entries for news sources contain specific components:

• Author’s full name, inverted
• Publication date in parentheses
• Article title in quotation marks
• Publication name in italics
• Page numbers or URL
• Database name if accessed through library resources

Digital Source Attribution

Digital news sources require additional citation elements:

• Website name in italics
• Access date in parentheses
• DOI or stable URL
• Platform name for social media content
• Timestamp for video content

Common Citation Mistakes to Avoid

Missing Essential Citation Elements

• Omitting publication dates in parentheses (Smith, NYT)
• Excluding page numbers for print articles
• Forgetting URLs for online sources
• Leaving out access dates for digital content
• Neglecting author names when available

Incorrect Formatting Choices

• Using italics for article titles instead of quotation marks
• Putting newspaper names in quotation marks rather than italics
• Mixing different citation styles within one document
• Adding periods inside quotation marks in AP style
• Capitalizing articles incorrectly in titles

Digital Source Citation Errors

• Including unstable or broken URLs
• Omitting platform names for social media content
• Using shortened URLs instead of complete web addresses
• Missing timestamps for time-sensitive content
• Failing to note content updates or revisions

Inconsistent Style Application

• Switching between AP and MLA formats
• Using single quotes instead of double quotes
• Alternating between italics and underlining
• Mixing American and British punctuation rules
• Incorporating multiple date formats

• Incorrect alphabetical ordering
• Missing hanging indents
• Improper spacing between entries
• Inconsistent punctuation usage
• Wrong sequence of citation elements

This section maintains a focused approach to citation errors while building on the previous content about proper formatting rules across different style guides. Each point addresses specific aspects of news article citations without repeating information from earlier sections.

Citation Styles for News Articles

Proper citation of news articles is fundamental to academic writing and professional communication. While the rules may seem complex at first the key distinction is straightforward: use quotation marks for article titles and italics for publication names.

Following established style guides ensures consistency and credibility in writing. Whether working with print or digital sources the basic principles remain the same though digital citations require additional elements like URLs and access dates.

The most important takeaway is maintaining consistency throughout your work. By understanding and applying these formatting guidelines writers can create professional and academically sound citations that effectively credit their sources.

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Sarah Jacobson

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