Writing: Journalists' Styles of Citing Sources

Information on Journalists' Citation Styles

Journalists' Citation Styles

Journalists generally embed their citations and references to sources in the text of their articles. They often do not use footnotes (or endnotes) as is common with other styles (see below).

When asked "Please provide instructions on how to cite materials in journalists' style", Copilot AI sent the following suggestions:

Citing materials in journalism often follows specific guidelines to ensure clarity and credibility. Here are some general instructions for citing sources in a journalistic style:

        1. Attribution in the Text:

          • When quoting or paraphrasing, attribute the source within the text. For example:
            • “According to John Smith, a professor at XYZ University…”
            • “In an interview with The New York Times, Jane Doe stated…”

        2. Direct Quotes:

          • Use quotation marks for direct quotes and include the source immediately after. For example:
            • “This is a significant discovery,” said Dr. Emily Brown, a leading researcher at ABC Institute.

        3. Paraphrasing:

          • When paraphrasing, still attribute the source to maintain credibility. For example:
            • Dr. Emily Brown from ABC Institute explained that the discovery could lead to new treatments.

        4. Citing Documents and Reports:

          • Mention the title of the document or report and the organization that published it. For example:
            • According to the “2024 Climate Change Report” by the Environmental Protection Agency…

        5. Online Sources:

          • Include the name of the website and the date of access if the information is likely to change. For example:
            • “The latest statistics are available on the CDC website (accessed January 30, 2025).”

        6. Footnotes and Endnotes:

          • While less common in journalistic writing, some publications use footnotes or endnotes for additional context or sources. Follow the specific style guide of the publication.

For more detailed guidelines, you can refer to specific journalism citation styles like those used in Journalism Studies or Journalism Practice Links to an external site.1 Links to an external site. 2 Links to an external site..

Learn more at 1 paperpile.com Links to an external site.; 2 paperpile.com Links to an external site.

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Other helpful information

        • Avoid Plagiarism: Always cite sources if you use someone else's materials, even if you do not directly quote them.

          • In the journalists' style, credit the source of information directly in the sentence where it appears, using phrases like. . .

            • "In an interview with [source] . . ."

            • "According to [source] . . ."

            • "[Source] reported that . . ."

            • "As stated by [source] . . ."

          • If a source must remain anonymous, which happens often in journalists' writing, explain why and provide as much context as possible without revealing their identity.

            • Example:

              • A senior university official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said an on-campus sports betting policy was under review.

        • Journalists often include hyperlinks to the original source in on-line journalism to allow readers to verify information and/or explore further.

          • Example:

            • A recent report by the World Health Organization (WHO) highlighted the growing problem of world hunger [link].

        • The Associated Press (AP) Stylebook Links to an external site. is a standard reference for journalistic writing.

 

Other Citation Styles