How do I cite newspaper articles from library databases in Chicago style?

 


Answer

This question has been updated to the 18th edition of Chicago Style. If you are using 17th edition, see this Library Handout, Purdue OWL, or contact a librarian.

A citation for a newspaper article from a library database includes the following:

  • Author (if named, Special to the New York Times, Washington Post, etc., does not count as an author)
  • Article Title in quotation marks
    • If the article is in all capital letters, lowercase everything but the first letter of major words within it 
    • If there is a lengthy subtitle beneath the article title, it is not necessary to include it
    • A period in the middle of a newspaper headline may be changed to a colon.
  • Newspaper Title
    • Omit the word “the” before the title and include a location in parentheses after the title if the location is not a well known one
    • If databases add a date range next to the Newspaper title, ex: New York Times (1851-1922), remove it because it is not part of the title
  • Full date of article with the month spelled out, ex: Month Day, Year
  • URL or Database Name

 

With Database Name instead of URL:

Footnote

1. Author First Name Author Last Name, "Article Title," Newspaper Title, Date (formatted Month Day, Year), Database Name.

1. John Smith, “Citation Generators Aren’t Always Right,” New York Times, September 3, 2020, ProQuest Historical Newspapers.

Bibliography

Author Last Name, Author First Name. "Article Title." Newspaper Title, Date (formatted Month Day, Year).      Database Name.

Smith, John. “Citation Generators Aren’t Always Right.” New York Times, September 3, 2020. ProQuest 

     Historical Newspapers.

 

With URL:

Footnote

1. Author First Name Author Last Name, "Article Title," Newspaper Title, Date (formatted Month Day, Year), URL.

1. “Citation Generators Aren’t Always Right,” New York Times, September 3, 2020, 

https://search-proquest-com.marist.idm.oclc.org/nytimes/index?accountid=28549

Bibliography

Author Last Name, Author First Name. "Article Title." Newspaper Title, Date (formatted Month Day, Year).      URL.

“Citation Generators Aren’t Always Right.” New York Times, September 3, 2020. 

     https://search-proquest-com.marist.idm.oclc.org/nytimes/index?accountid=28549

 

If you need further help, contact a librarian.

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  • Last Updated Jul 10, 2025
  • Views 1655
  • Answered By Elizabeth Clarke

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