Cite media sources and opinion pieces in MLA

In-text citations

• Place direct quotes between double quotation marks (" ") and provide the page number(s) from the newspaper. If no page numbers are provided, then include the paragraph number.
• For works that are anonymously authored, or have no author, include a shortened version of the title in the in-text citation. Do not list the author as 'anonymous' or 'anon.'.  
•  If the source does not use any numbering system (e.g., chapters, sections, scenes, verses) include only the author’s name in the in-text citation. Don’t include paragraph numbers unless they are explicitly numbered in the source (See: Newspapers - No consecutive page numbers)

Citation format	Example
Paraphrasing	Kerry Greenwood writes in her front room … (Stephens 11).
Direct quote	"When I wrote my last book, I wrote it in about six weeks. I just write and don't do anything else " (Stephens 11).

Works cited

• If the newspaper is a less well-known or local publication, include the city name in square brackets after the title of the newspaper, as seen in the example above.
• For publication dates, abbreviate all months to the first three letters (e.g. Oct.), except for September (which should be Sept.).

Reference format	Example
Template	Author. “Article Title.” Newspaper/Magazine Name [City (if not in name)] Day Month Year, page range. Database, URL.
Works cited entry	Stephens, Andrew. "My space - Kerry Greenwood." The Age [Melbourne] 7 Dec. 2008, p. 11. Newspaper Source Plus. web.a.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail/detail?vid=6&sid=43a16fdf-226d-4081-adf4-7163b006abc8%40sessionmgr4009&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZSZzY29wZT1zaXRl#AN=SYD-5KT5FPNBIM0LS42K5FK&db=n5h.

In-text citations

• Place direct quotes between double quotation marks (" ") and provide the page number(s) from the newspaper. If no page numbers are provided, then include the paragraph number.
• For works that are anonymously authored, or have no author, include a shortened version of the title in the in-text citation. Do not list the author as 'anonymous', or 'anon.').
• If the source does not use any numbering system (e.g. chapters, sections, scenes, verses) include only the author’s name in the in-text citation. Don’t include paragraph numbers unless they are explicitly numbered in the source 

Citation format	Example
Paraphrasing	Sydneysiders can now enjoy a unique metal sculpture donated by … (Morris).
Direct quote	A generous couple from Sydney “gifted their estate to the Art Gallery of NSW, they did so on the condition that their intentions not be publicised until after their deaths” (Morris).

Works cited

• If the newspaper is a less well-known or local publication, include the city name in square brackets after the title of the newspaper
• For publication dates, abbreviate all months to the first three letters (e.g. Oct.), except for September (which should be Sept.).

Reference format	Example
Template	Author. “Article Title.” Newspaper/Magazine Name [City (if not in name)] Day Month Year, page range, doi/URL.
Works cited entry	Morris, Linda. “The Sydney Couple Who Gifted the City a Rock and Polished Metal Sculpture.” The Age [Melbourne], 17 Sep. 2025, 3, www.theage.com.au/culture/art-and-design/the-sydney-couple-who-gifted-the-city-a-rock-and-polished-metal-sculpture-20250911-p5mude.html.

In-text citations

• Place direct quotes between double quotation marks (" ") and provide the page number(s) from the newspaper. If no page numbers are provided, then include the paragraph number.
• For works that are anonymously authored, or have no author, include a shortened version of the title in the in-text citation. Do not list the author as 'anonymous', or  'anon.').
•  If the source does not use any numbering system (e.g., chapters, sections, scenes, verses) include only the author’s name in the in-text citation. Don’t include paragraph numbers unless they are explicitly numbered in the source 

Citation format	Example
Paraphrasing	Jim Hunt has reported that the assassin of President Kennedy … (1).
Direct quote	"The death of President Kennedy has impacted people world over …" (Hunt 1, para. 1).

Works cited

• If the newspaper is a less well-known or local publication, include the city name in square brackets [ ] after the title of the newspaper.
• For publication dates, abbreviate all months to the first three letters (e.g. Oct.), except for September (which should be Sept.).

Reference format	Example
Template	Author. “Article Title.” Newspaper/Magazine Name [City (if not in name)] Day Month Year, page range.
Works cited entry	Hunt, Jim. “Assassin Kills Kennedy.” Chicago Tribune, 22 Nov. 1963, p. 1+. Litson, Jo. “Pulse of the Times.” The Australian, 7 May 2004, p. 17. Smith, John.”Steelers win Super Bowl XLIII.” Star-Ledger [Newark]. 2 Feb. 2009, pp. 4-6.

In-text citations

• Place direct quotes between double quotation marks (" ") and provide the page number(s) from the newspaper. If no page numbers are provided, then include the paragraph number.
• For works that are anonymously authored, or have no author, include a shortened version of the title in the in-text citation. Do not list the author as 'anonymous' or 'anon.'.
• If the source does not use any numbering system (e.g. chapters, sections, scenes, verses) include only the author’s name in the in-text citation. Don’t include paragraph numbers unless they are explicitly numbered in the source.

Citation format	Example
Paraphrasing	Kerry Greenwood was an Australian author who wrote … (Greagg 29).
Direct quote	Greagg states in his obituary of Kerry Greenwood that she had two main goals in life, that is, “to be a Legal Aid solicitor and defend the poor and voiceless; and be a famous author” (29).

Works cited

• If the newspaper is a less well-known or local publication, include the city name in square brackets [ ] after the title of the newspaper.
• For publication dates, abbreviate all months to the first three letters (e.g. Oct.), except for September (which should be Sept.).

Reference format	Example
Template	Author. “Article Title.” Newspaper/Magazine Name [City (if not in name)] Day Month Year, Name sec., page range, Database, URL.
Works cited entry	Greagg, David. “Author had Two Burning Ambitions in Life: She Achieved Them Both.” The Age [Melbourne], 17 Jun. 2025, Arts sec., p. 29. NewsBank, infoweb-newsbank-com.ap1.proxy.openathens.net/apps/news/document-view?p=AUNB&t=&sort=YMD_date%3AD&hide_duplicates=2&fld-base-0=alltext&maxresults=60&val-base-0=%22kerry%20greenwood%22&docref=image/v2%3A16CF8755F38233F8%40AUNB-19FF3D652CAF4F16%402460781-19FF3D7CB7EBF1FF%4028-19FF3D7CB7EBF1FF%40.

In-text citations

• Place direct quotes between double quotation marks (" ") and provide the page number(s) from the newspaper. If no page numbers are provided, then include the paragraph number.
• For works that are anonymously authored, or have no author, include a shortened version of the title in the in-text citation. Do not list the author as 'anonymous' or 'anon.'.

Citation format	Example
Paraphrasing	School budgets are now linked to their performance outcomes (“Budget to link school spending” 2).
Direct quote	The minister for education has made it clear that “performance outcomes will now determine school funding” (“Budget to link school spending” 2).

Works cited

• For works that are anonymously authored, or have no author, include a shortened version of the title in the in-text citation. Do not list the author as 'anonymous'’ or 'anon.’).
• If the newspaper is a less well-known or local publication, include the city name in square brackets [ ] after the title of the newspaper.
• For publication dates, abbreviate all months to the first three letters (e.g. Oct.), except for September (which should be Sept.).

Reference format	Example
Template	“Article Title.” Newspaper/Magazine Name [City (if not in name)] Day Month Year, page range, doi/URL.
Works cited entry	“Budget to link school spending to outcomes.” The Australian [Sydney] 2 May 2016, 23.

In-text citations

• Place direct quotes between double quotation marks (" ") and provide the page number(s) from the newspaper. If no page numbers are provided, then include the paragraph number.
• For works that are anonymously authored, or have no author, include a shortened version of the title in the in-text citation (do not list the author as "anonymous", nor as "anon.").
• If the source does not use any numbering system (e.g., chapters, sections, scenes, verses) include only the author’s name in the in-text citation. Don’t include paragraph numbers unless they are explicitly numbered in the source.

Citation format	Example
Paraphrasing	Clancy Yeates and Dan Harrison state that a Swan surplus is unlikely due to … (3).
Direct quote	"The reason a surplus is unlikely …" (3).

Works cited

 If the pages are non-consecutive, add a plus sign after the first page number. For example, an article might begin on page 3, then skip to page 14. In this instance, record only the first page number and a plus sign (+), leaving no intervening space.

Reference format	Example
Template	Author. "Title of Article." Title of Newspaper, day month year, first page of article+.
Works cited entry	Yeates, Clancy and Dan Harrison. "Swan Admits Surplus Unlikely." The Age, 20 Dec. 2012, pp. 3+.

In-text citations

Place direct quotes between double quotation marks (" ") and provide the paragraph number(s).

Citation format	Example
Paraphrasing	A fund has been set to support underdeveloped countries act on climate change (Global Environment Facility).
Direct quote	“The Least Developed Countries Fund provides adaptation support where it is most urgently needed, notably the world’s poorest countries where vulnerabilities to climate change are so high” (Global Environment Facility).

Works cited

Reference format	Example
Template	“Title.” Organisation/Publisher, Day Month Year, URL. Form.
Works cited entry	Global Environment Facility. “Governments Commit to Shared Climate Action through Least Developed Countries Fund.” Global Environment Facility, 26 Sept. 2019, www.thegef.org/news/governments-commit-shared-climate-action-through-least-developed-countries-fund. Press release.

In-text citations

Place direct quotes between double quotation marks (" ") and provide the paragraph number(s) for print sources.

Citation format	Example
Paraphrasing	Alison Croggon comments that 'Private Lies' is a romantic comedy … Vika and Linda Bull are Australian singers who … (McDonald).
Direct quote	"Private Lives, Noël Coward’s acid romantic comedy, opens with an irresistible …" (Croggon). McDonald stated in his review of Australian singers Vika and Linda Bull that “together, they are simply unparalleled in their mastery of harmony and sibling simpatico for soul, gospel and blues music”.

Works cited

• Hyperlinks that go beyond three lines can be shortened. See advice and examples on the MLA website.
• If the review has no title, just give the description.
• Format the remaining parts of the reference according to the publication type (e.g., newspaper article, online post, etc.).

Film review (print newspaper)

Reference format	Example
Template	Reviewer. “Title of Review.” Review of Title of Work Reviewed, by  Author/Director/Artist. Title of Work (containing review), Date , month, year, URL.
Works cited entry	Seitz, Matt Zoller. "Life in the Sprawling Suburbs, If You Can Really Call It Living." Review of Radiant City, directed by Gary Burns and Jim Brown. New York Times, 30 May 2007, p. E1.

Theatre review (Online)

Provide an access date for an online review if it has no publication date or you feel that the item may be removed in the future.

Reference format	Example
Template	Reviewer. “Title of Review.” Review of Title of Work Reviewed, by  Author/Director/Artist. Title of Work (containing review), Date , month, year, URL.
Works cited entry	Croggon, Alison. Review of Private Lives, Melbourne Theatre Company by Noel Coward. Guardian Australia, 31 Jan. 2014, www.theguardian.com/culture/australia-culture-blog/2014/jan/31/private-lives-melbourne-theatre-company-review. Accessed 7 Feb. 2014.

From a database 

Provide an access date for an online review if it has no publication date or you feel that the item may be removed in the future.

Reference format	Example
Template	Reviewer. "Title of Review (if there is one)." Review of Title, by First Name Last Name (Author/Director/Artist). Title of Newspaper, Day Month Year, page range of article. Database, URL/DOI.
Works cited entry	McDonald, Patrick. “Sisterly Harmonies, Disco Dancing and Comedy Capers Rock Cabaret Festival.” Review of An Evening with Vika & Linda, by Vika and Linda Bull. The Advertiser, 13 Jun. 2025. NewsBank, www.newsbank.com.