How to Cite CNN in MLA 9 Format

What MLA 9 expects for CNN citations

In MLA 9th edition, you cite CNN the same way you cite most online news articles. The key idea is to help your reader quickly identify the specific story you used and where it came from. CNN is the publisher or the container, the article is the source, and the URL and access date help readers retrieve it.

A standard MLA Works Cited entry for a CNN web article usually includes these core parts, in this order:

1. Author
2. Title of the article (in quotation marks)
3. Website name (usually CNN, italicized)
4. Publisher (often omitted if it is the same as the website name)
5. Publication date
6. URL
7. Access date (optional in MLA, but often helpful for web sources)

MLA calls this “containers” because an article lives inside a larger site. CNN is typically the container.

Author rules you must follow for CNN (based on your requirements)

One author

• Use the author’s full first name, not initials.
• Invert the first author’s name: Last, First Middle.

Format
- Last, First Middle. "Title of Article." CNN, Day Month Year, URL.

Two authors

• First author is inverted.
• Second author is in normal order.
• Use and between names.
• Use full first names.

Format
- Last, First Middle, and First Last. "Title of Article." CNN, Day Month Year, URL.

Three or more authors

• List only the first author, inverted, with full first name.
• Add et al. after the first author.
• Do not list the other authors.

Format
- Last, First Middle, et al. "Title of Article." CNN, Day Month Year, URL.

No author listed

• Start with the title of the article in quotation marks.
• Do not use “Anonymous.”
• Do not use “n.d.”
• For alphabetizing, ignore A, An, The.

Format
- "Title of Article." CNN, Day Month Year, URL.

These rules matter because MLA Works Cited entries are organized alphabetically. Inverting the first author and using consistent author handling makes it easy for a reader to find the source quickly.

Titles and containers for CNN

Article title

• Put the article title in quotation marks.
• Capitalize using title case, meaning capitalize major words.

Example:
"Wildfires Spread as Winds Intensify in Southern California"

Website name

• Use CNN as the website name, italicized.

Publisher

• MLA 9 says you can omit the publisher if it is the same as the website name.
• For CNN pages, CNN is usually both the site and the publisher, so you typically do not repeat it.

So you usually do this:
- CNN, 12 Oct. 2024, URL.

Not this:
- CNN, CNN, 12 Oct. 2024, URL.

Dates and URLs for CNN

Publication date

• Use MLA’s date format: Day Month Year.
• Abbreviate months with more than four letters, for example, Jan., Feb., Sept., Oct.

If CNN shows only a month and year, use what is available. If it shows a full date, use the full date.

URL

• Use the direct URL to the article.
• MLA does not require “https://” in every case, but including it is fine and often clearer.
• Do not add a period after the URL if it might confuse copying and pasting. If you must end the citation with a period in formal formatting, many instructors still accept it, but be consistent.

Access date

MLA 9 treats access dates as optional, but they are useful when:
- the page is updated often,
- the content is likely to change,
- you are citing a live page, interactive page, or transcript page.

Access date format:
- Accessed 1 Jan. 2026.

Example 1, one author CNN article (with explanation)

Works Cited entry

Smith, Jordan Michael. "NASA Tests New Moon Rover Prototype in Desert Trials." CNN, 14 Nov. 2024, https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/14/science/moon-rover-prototype-test/index.html.

Why it is formatted this way

• Smith, Jordan Michael: The author is listed first and inverted to support alphabetical ordering. Full first name is used, not initials.
• "NASA Tests New Moon Rover Prototype in Desert Trials.": Article title is in quotation marks because it is a short work within a larger container.
• ** CNN **: The container is the website. It is italicized.
• 14 Nov. 2024: MLA date format.
• URL: Provides the retrieval path.

In-text citation

MLA in-text citations usually use the author’s last name:
- (Smith)

If you mention the author in the sentence:
- Smith reports that the prototype performed well in sand and rock conditions.

Because web articles often have no page numbers, you typically cite only the author.

Example 2, two authors CNN article (with explanation)

Works Cited entry

Garcia, Elena Marie, and Thomas Reed. "Inflation Cools as Consumer Spending Shifts in Late Summer." CNN, 3 Sept. 2025, https://www.cnn.com/2025/09/03/economy/inflation-consumer-spending/index.html.

Why it is formatted this way

• Garcia, Elena Marie, and Thomas Reed: First author is inverted. Second author is not inverted. MLA uses and for two authors. Full first names are used.
• Title in quotation marks: It is an article, not a whole website.
• Container in italics: CNN is the site hosting the article.
• Date and URL: Standard MLA web citation elements.

In-text citation

For two authors, MLA uses both last names:
- (Garcia and Reed)

If you name them in the sentence:
- Garcia and Reed explain that spending patterns changed as prices stabilized.

Example 3, no author CNN article (with explanation)

Works Cited entry

"How the Supreme Court Ruling Could Affect Student Loan Borrowers." CNN, 28 June 2025, https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/28/politics/supreme-court-student-loans-impact/index.html. Accessed 1 Jan. 2026.

Why it is formatted this way

• No author: The citation begins with the title. This is MLA’s standard approach when no author is provided.
• Alphabetizing: In your Works Cited list, alphabetize by the first important word in the title. Ignore A, An, The.
• Access date included: Helpful because legal and political coverage pages may be updated or revised.

In-text citation

Use a shortened version of the title in quotation marks:
- ("Supreme Court Ruling")

Pick a short, clear phrase from the beginning of the title.

Practical tips for citing CNN correctly

Tip 1, confirm the author line

CNN sometimes lists:
- a single reporter,
- multiple reporters,
- “By CNN Staff,”
- no author at all.

Use whatever is shown on the page. If it says “CNN Staff,” treat that as the author name as written, but keep your full-name rule in mind when individual names are available. If no individual is listed, your safest MLA move is to treat it as no author and begin with the title.

Tip 2, use the article page, not a search or homepage link

Cite the URL of the specific story, not:
- a CNN search results page,
- a topic hub page,
- a newsletter landing page,
unless that is truly what you used.

Tip 3, watch for update times

CNN often shows “Published” and “Updated.” MLA usually prefers the publication date. If the update is important to your use, you can choose the updated date, but be consistent across your paper.

Tip 4, keep punctuation and italics consistent

Common pattern:
- Author. "Title." CNN, Date, URL.

Small punctuation errors can make citations harder to read, especially missing quotation marks around the article title or forgetting to italicize CNN.

Common pitfalls to avoid

Pitfall 1, using initials for authors

Do not write:
- Smith, J. M.

Use:
- Smith, Jordan Michael.

This matters because initials can hide identity and make it harder to distinguish authors with similar names. Your rule prioritizes clarity and respect for the author’s full name.

Pitfall 2, inverting the second author in a two-author entry

Incorrect:
- Garcia, Elena Marie, and Reed, Thomas.

Correct:
- Garcia, Elena Marie, and Thomas Reed.

MLA inverts only the first author in the Works Cited entry.

Pitfall 3, listing all authors for three or more

Incorrect:
- Lee, Amanda, Chris Patel, and Morgan Wright.

Correct:
- Lee, Amanda, et al.

This matters because MLA simplifies long author lists and keeps Works Cited entries readable.

Pitfall 4, treating CNN as the author when a reporter is listed

If the page lists a reporter, that person is the author. CNN is the container. Mixing these roles can confuse readers trying to locate or evaluate the source.

Quick template you can reuse

CNN article, one author

Last, First Middle. "Title of Article." CNN, Day Month Year, URL.

CNN article, two authors

Last, First Middle, and First Last. "Title of Article." CNN, Day Month Year, URL.

CNN article, three or more authors

Last, First Middle, et al. "Title of Article." CNN, Day Month Year, URL.

CNN article, no author

"Title of Article." CNN, Day Month Year, URL. Accessed Day Month Year.

If you share a specific CNN link and tell me whether you want an access date included, I can format the exact Works Cited entry and the matching in-text citation.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Common Errors for Cnn Citations

Validation Checklist

Special Cases

Special and edge cases when citing CNN in MLA 9

CNN sources look simple at first, but they often include features that create citation problems, such as frequent updates, shared bylines, newsroom labels, videos embedded in articles, and pages that function more like live feeds than stable articles. MLA 9 is flexible, but you still need consistency and enough information for a reader to find the exact item you used.

Below are the most common special cases for CNN, along with practical tips and common pitfalls. Examples use the author name rules you provided, including full first names, inversion for the first author, and proper handling of multiple authors.

1) When the author is a newsroom label, not a person

CNN sometimes credits pieces to labels like “CNN Staff,” “By CNN,” “CNN Digital,” “CNN Wire,” or “CNN’s John Doe and Jane Roe” in ways that are inconsistent across the page. MLA prefers a real person when one is clearly named. If no person is named, treat it as no author and start with the title.

Practical tip

Look for the byline near the headline and also near the top or bottom of the article, since CNN sometimes lists a person plus “CNN” and “Reuters” or “Associated Press.”

Common pitfall

Do not invent an author. If the page does not give a person’s name, do not substitute “CNN” as the author unless the site explicitly presents CNN as the author in a way that functions like a corporate author. In most student papers, it is cleaner to treat it as no author and begin with the title.

2) When there are two authors, or three or more authors

CNN often lists multiple reporters. Apply your rules exactly.

• Two authors: first author inverted, second author normal order, use and.
• Three or more authors: first author inverted, then et al. only.

Why this matters

Your Works Cited list is alphabetical. Inverting only the first author keeps sorting consistent, and using “et al.” prevents citations from becoming unreadable.

3) When CNN lists editors, producers, or “reported by” credits

Video pages and some special features may list roles like “Produced by,” “Edited by,” or “Photographs by.” MLA usually treats the main creator as the author, but roles can matter if there is no traditional author.

Practical tip

If the page clearly labels someone as the primary creator, you can use that person as the author. If roles are listed but no clear author is given, start with the title and include the contributors later only if they help identify the source.

Common pitfall

Do not treat a producer credit as an author if the page already has a reporter byline. Choose one main author position, usually the reporter or the credited creator of the segment.

4) When the piece is updated, corrected, or has multiple dates

CNN frequently includes language like “Updated 4:12 PM ET, May 5, 2024” or “Published May 5, 2024.” MLA 9 allows you to cite the date that best matches what you used. If you relied on the updated content, cite the updated date. If the page shows both published and updated dates and you are unsure, use the date that appears most prominently, often the updated date.

Why this matters

Readers may see a different version of a CNN page later. Using the update date helps your reader locate the correct version and understand timing.

Practical tips

• If your instructor cares about versioning, add an access date at the end, especially for fast changing topics.
• If the page is a live feed, an access date becomes more important.

Common pitfalls

• Leaving out the date entirely when it is available.
• Using only the year when CNN provides a full date.

5) When the URL is long, messy, or includes tracking

CNN URLs can include extra parameters. MLA allows a clean URL. Remove tracking strings when possible, but keep enough of the URL to reach the exact page.

Practical tip

Use the canonical URL shown in the address bar after the page fully loads, then delete obvious tracking parameters that start with question marks, if removing them still loads the page.

6) When the page is a live blog or rolling coverage page

CNN live updates pages behave differently from standard articles. They may not have one stable author, and they may contain many timestamped entries.

How to handle it

• If you cite the whole live page, treat it as a web page with a title and a date range or a last updated date, if shown.
• If you cite a specific entry within the live page, cite the live page and identify the specific entry in your in-text citation or in your prose, since MLA does not have a perfect “live entry” container system for every site.

Practical tip

Screenshot or save a PDF for your research notes, and include an access date in your citation.

7) When you used a CNN video, not the written article

CNN often embeds a video at the top of an article, and sometimes the video has its own page. MLA treats a video as a separate source if you relied on the video itself.

What to include

• Title of the video in quotation marks.
• Website name in italics, usually CNN.
• Date.
• URL.

Common pitfall

Citing the article page when you actually watched and analyzed the video segment. If your evidence is visual or spoken content, cite the video page if available.

8) When CNN content is republished from Reuters or the Associated Press

CNN sometimes hosts wire stories. The byline might include Reuters, AP, or both. If the page clearly says the story is by Reuters, treat Reuters as the author only if it is presented as the author. If it lists a person plus Reuters, use the person as the author.

Practical tip

If the byline is only “Reuters,” you can use “Reuters” as a corporate author. If it says “By Jane Doe, Reuters,” use Jane Doe as the author.

Examples with correct formatting and explanations

Example 1: No author listed, start with the title

Works Cited entry

“Wildfires Force Evacuations as Winds Intensify in Southern California.” CNN, 18 Jan. 2025, https://www.cnn.com/2025/01/18/us/southern-california-wildfires-evacuations/index.html.

Why this is correct
- The page does not credit a person as author, so the citation starts with the title in quotation marks.
- CNN is the website name, italicized.
- The full date is included because CNN provides day, month, and year.
- The URL is included so readers can locate the exact page.

Common pitfall to avoid
Do not write “CNN Staff” unless the page explicitly uses that as the author. If the page is effectively anonymous, MLA prefers starting with the title.

Example 2: Two authors, first inverted, second not inverted, full first names

Works Cited entry

Garcia, Maria Elena, and Thomas Edward Hill. “How the New Tariffs Could Affect Consumer Prices This Year.” CNN, 3 Apr. 2024, https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/03/economy/tariffs-consumer-prices/index.html.

Why this is correct
- Two authors are listed. The first author is inverted, last name first.
- The second author is written in normal order, and the word “and” connects them.
- Full first names are used, not initials, matching your rule set.
- Title is in quotation marks because it is a web article, not a standalone book or site.

Common pitfalls to avoid
- Do not invert the second author.
- Do not use an ampersand. MLA uses “and.”
- Do not shorten names to initials.

Example 3: Three or more authors, use “et al.” after the first author only, include an access date for an updated page

Works Cited entry

Patel, Anika Rani, et al. “Live Updates: Election Results and Key Races Across the Country.” CNN, updated 6 Nov. 2024, https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/election-results-2024/index.html. Accessed 7 Nov. 2024.

Why this is correct
- There are three or more authors, so only the first author is listed, inverted, followed by “et al.”
- The page is a live updates format, which can change. Including an access date helps document what you saw.
- The citation uses an “updated” date because live pages often emphasize the most recent update rather than a single publication moment.

Common pitfalls to avoid
- Do not list the first three authors and then “et al.” Your rule says first author only, then “et al.”
- Do not omit the access date for a live page if the content is likely to change.

Why these rules matter in MLA 9

MLA citations are not just formalities. They help your reader do three things.

1. Find the exact source you used. CNN updates stories quickly. Dates, URLs, and access dates can be the difference between a reader finding your version and finding a later revision.
2. Understand credibility and responsibility. A named reporter is different from a generic newsroom label. Correct author handling makes responsibility clear.
3. Keep your Works Cited consistent and searchable. Inverting the first author and using “et al.” consistently makes your list easy to scan and alphabetize.

Quick checklist for CNN citations

• Confirm whether a real person is credited as author. If not, start with the title.
• Use full first names, not initials, and invert only the first author.
• Use “and” for two authors. Use “et al.” for three or more.
• Choose the most relevant date, often the updated date. Add an access date for live or frequently updated pages.
• Cite a video as a video if you relied on the video content.
• Clean the URL if possible, but keep it functional.

If you share one or two CNN links you are working with, I can format the exact MLA 9 Works Cited entries using your author rules and identify any tricky edge cases on those pages.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cite a CNN article in MLA 9 format?

To cite a CNN news article in MLA 9, start with the author’s name (if listed), then put the article title in quotation marks. Next, list the website name as CNN, in italics, followed by the publication date, the URL, and an access date only if your instructor asks for it or the page is likely to change. Example pattern: Lastname, Firstname. “Title of Article.” CNN, Day Month Year, URL. If there is no author, begin with the title. If there is a section label like “Politics” or “World,” you usually do not include it unless your instructor wants it. For a full MLA Works Cited overview, see the MLA Style Center: https://style.mla.org/works-cited-a-quick-guide/

What if the CNN article has no author listed, how do I cite it?

If a CNN article does not list an author, MLA 9 tells you to start the Works Cited entry with the article title in quotation marks. Then list CNN in italics, followed by the publication date and the URL. Do not invent an author. In your in text citation, use a shortened version of the title in quotation marks, for example, (“Shortened Title”). This is common with breaking news pages, live updates, or staff written items where the byline is missing. If the page credits “CNN Staff” or a newsroom label, you can treat that as the author if it is clearly presented as the creator. For guidance on entries without authors, see MLA Style Center: https://style.mla.org/citing-sources-with-no-author/

How do I cite a CNN video or clip I watched on CNN.com in MLA?

For a CNN video on CNN.com, cite it like a web video. Use the title of the video in quotation marks, then CNN in italics, the date posted (if available), the URL, and an access date if required. If a person is credited as a reporter, host, or uploader in a way that indicates authorship, list that name first. If you are citing a specific segment within a larger page, use the segment title if it appears on the page. In text, cite the title in parentheses. Practical scenario, if you reference a two minute CNN clip embedded in an article, cite the clip itself if you are analyzing the video content rather than the written article. More on citing online videos in MLA: https://style.mla.org/citing-online-videos/

Do I need to include the access date when citing CNN in MLA 9?

MLA 9 treats access dates as optional, but they are useful when content can change, when there is no clear publication date, or when your instructor requires them. CNN pages sometimes update headlines, timestamps, and live story content, so adding an access date can strengthen transparency. If you include one, place it at the end of the citation, for example, “Accessed 1 Jan. 2026.” Practical scenario, if you cite a live updates page or a developing story that may be revised after you read it, include the access date even if you have a publication date. If your citation already has a stable publication date and the page is not likely to change, you can usually omit it. MLA’s quick guide is here: https://style.mla.org/works-cited-a-quick-guide/

How do I cite a CNN live updates page or a story that keeps changing?

For CNN live updates or rolling coverage, cite the page as a web article, but pay close attention to dates. Use the page title in quotation marks, CNN in italics, and the most relevant date provided. If the page shows both a published date and an updated date, you can use the date that best matches what you consulted, often the updated date if that reflects the version you read. Add an access date because live pages change frequently. Practical scenario, if you quote a specific update within the live blog, try to identify that update’s timestamp and describe it in your prose, then cite the overall page in Works Cited. If your instructor wants pinpoint citations, use the shortened title in text and mention the time in your sentence. Date guidance: https://style.mla.org/dates-in-mla/

How do I cite CNN in text citations, especially if there is no page number?

CNN sources usually do not have page numbers, so MLA in text citations rely on the author’s last name, or a shortened title when no author is listed. If there is an author, cite (Lastname). If there is no author, cite (“Shortened Article Title”). You do not need to include CNN in the parenthetical citation unless it helps differentiate similar titles, your Works Cited entry is what provides the container information. Practical scenario, if you cite two different CNN articles with similar titles, shorten each title differently so readers can match them to the correct Works Cited entry. If you quote a specific statistic from a CNN page, place the parenthetical citation immediately after the quote or sentence. In text citation basics: https://style.mla.org/in-text-citations/

Last Updated: 2026-01-01
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