In the old days, you needed page numbers, column numbers, and a blood sacrifice to the library gods. Today, most newspapers live online. Use a URL only if you’re in a casual setting (like a blog). In formal writing, skip the link—just state the date.
Fun fact: The first newspaper in the American colonies, Publick Occurrences (1690), was shut down after one issue. Imagine the citations we missed. History is a tease.
For online-only articles, add “Retrieved from” only if your professor demands it. Otherwise, treat it like a digital ghost—present, but invisible.
The Art of the Paraphrase
Nobody wants a wall of direct quotes. That’s called laziness, not research. Paraphrase the gist and then slap your citation at the end. Example: Most experts agree that walking meetings boost creativity (Barker, The Wall Street Journal, 2026).
Warning: Do not change the meaning. That’s called plagiarism, and it’s the fast track to a bad reputation. Think of it like karaoke—you can cover the song, but you can’t change the lyrics.
How to Cite a Newspaper Article in MLA | EasyBib Citations
A great paraphrase even earns you a wink from your reader. They think, “Wow, this writer knows her stuff.” And you do—because you citated like a pro.
