How do you cite an online news article in AMA style?

An online news article in AMA style should give readers enough information to identify the article and locate the page. The exact format can depend on whether the story has a named author, a publication date, an update date, and a stable URL. I check the current AMA instructions as well as the requirements of the journal or course.

Start with the author's surname and initials when an individual author is listed. Then write the article title in sentence style, followed by the news organization or website name. Include the publication date when available, the date accessed, and the URL. A general pattern is: Author AA. Article title. Website or News Organization. Published Month Day, Year. Accessed Month Day, Year. URL. If no personal author is given, begin with the article title or use the organization according to the relevant guidance.

The access date matters because online stories can be edited, moved, or removed. I record it even when the page displays a publication date. If the article has been updated, I use the information that identifies the version I actually read. A homepage URL is less useful than the direct article URL, and a search-results link should not be used as the source address.

For a live news page, I check spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and whether the URL contains tracking parameters that can be removed without changing the destination. I do not cite a headline from memory. I open the source and compare the author, title, date, and organization before finalizing the reference.

amacitationgenerator.org can help arrange the details into an AMA-style citation. I review the generated entry against the source page and the target publication's rules, particularly for missing authors and date formats. In the text, use the numbered citation system required by the assignment and keep the reference number consistent wherever the article is discussed.