Newspaper pieces look like journal articles at first glance. The difference: journals use volume and issue. Newspaper references do not.
Use the right in-text citation. Build a clear reference list line. Add page numbers when you quote text from print.
Quick Formats
In-text
- General: (Author Surname Year)
- With page: (Author Surname Year, p. #) or (pp. #-#)
- No author: (Newspaper Title Day Month Year, p. #)
- No author and no page: (‘Article title’ Year)
Reference list — print
Author Surname, Initial(s) Year, ‘Article title’, *Newspaper Title*, Day Month, p. # or pp. #-#.
Reference list — online (an electronic source)
Author Surname, Initial(s). (Year). ‘Article title’. *Newspaper Title*, [online] Day Month, p. # or pp. #-#. Available at: URL [Accessed Day Mon. Year].
In Harvard Referencing Style, keep titles in single quotes for newspaper articles. Italicise the newspaper name.
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Decision Table
| Scenario | In-text | Reference list essentials |
|---|---|---|
| Print article with author | (Surname Year) or (Surname Year, p. #) | Author; Year; ‘Title’; Newspaper; Day Month; pages |
| Online article with author | (Surname Year) | Author; Year; ‘Title’; Newspaper; [online]; Day Month; pages if shown; URL; Accessed |
| No author, print | (Newspaper Day Month Year, p. #) | None required in some guides when no author is shown; check your sheet. If required, start with Newspaper and date |
| No author, online, no pages | (‘Article title’ Year) | ‘Article title’ Year, Newspaper, Day Month, viewed Day Mon. Year, URL |
Always follow your department’s sheet if it varies. Stay consistent across your dissertation.
Harvard Citation Examples
Online, with author and page
- In-text: (Syal 2013)
- Reference list: Syal, R. (2013). ‘Abandoned NHS IT system has cost £10bn so far’. The Guardian, [online] 18 September, p. 1. Available at: http://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/sep/18/nhs-records-system-10bn [Accessed 19 Oct. 2014].
Print, with page
- In-text: (Browne 2010, p. 45)
- Reference list: Browne, R. 2010, ‘This brainless patient is no dummy’, Sydney Morning Herald, 21 March, p. 45.
No author, print
- In-text: (Sydney Morning Herald 24 January 2000, p. 12)
- Reference list: follow your local guide; many omit a reference line when no author is present for print notices.
No author and no page, online
- In-text: (‘Uluru like you’ve never seen it’ 2016)
- Reference list: ‘Uluru like you’ve never seen it’ 2016, The Daily Telegraph, 29 August, viewed 31 Aug. 2016, <URL>.
Separately paginated web section (no print pages)
- In-text: (Puvanenthiran 2016)
- Reference list: Puvanenthiran, B. 2016, ‘Holographic creation company gets boost from Alibaba’s investment arm’, Sydney Morning Herald, 28 September, viewed 08 Jan. 2017, http://www.smh.com.au/….
Frequently Asked Questions
To cite a newspaper article, use the following format: Author(s). (Year, Month Day). Title of the article. Title of the Newspaper, page range. URL (if online). In-text: (Author, Year).
Cite the newspaper. If it’s hosted on a platform, include that URL and the Accessed date.
Leave pages out. Keep date, URL, and Accessed line.
Use the title as shown. Do not invent a new one.
Cite the author shown. If only the wire service is listed, use that as the author.
Yes. Journals include volume and issue. Newspaper entries do not.
