How to Cite a Press Release in APA

• Tomas Elliott (Ph.D.)
• Published on 06/14/2024

Citing sources accurately is crucial in academic and professional writing to maintain credibility and avoid plagiarism. The American Psychological Association (APA) provides guidelines for citing various types of sources, including press releases. This article outlines the steps to properly cite a press release in APA style.

FORMAT FOR CITING A PRESS RELEASE

When citing a press release in APA style, the reference entry should include several key elements:

• Identify the Author: The author of the press release is typically the organization that issued it. This is often a government agency, corporation, non-profit organization, or other entity responsible for the release of the information.
• Specify the Date of Publication: The publication date should be in parentheses and formatted to include the year, month, and day. This precise dating helps the reader locate the specific release and understand the timeliness of the information. Ensure the date follows the format (Year, Month Day).
• Title of the Press Release: The title of the press release should be in italics and use sentence case. Sentence case means that only the first word of the title, the first word after a colon or em dash, and any proper nouns are capitalized. This style is used to maintain consistency and readability in APA citations.
• Indicate the Nature of the Source: To clarify the type of document being cited, include a brief description in square brackets after the title. For press releases, the description “[Press release]” should be used. This annotation helps the reader understand the context and type of the source, which can be particularly useful in differentiating between similar types of documents.
• Include the URL: Providing the direct URL to the press release is essential as it allows readers to access the original source directly. Ensure the URL is complete and includes “https://”. This enables readers to verify the information and explore the source in detail if needed.

EXAMPLE OF A PRESS RELEASE CITATION

EXAMPLE PRESS RELEASE IN-TEXT CITATION

When incorporating information from a press release into your text, it’s important to use proper in-text citations to give credit to the source. APA style offers two methods for in-text citations: parenthetical and narrative.

Parenthetical Citation: In a parenthetical citation, the author and date of publication are included in parentheses at the end of the sentence. This method is useful when you want to reference the source without directly mentioning it in your text.

Narrative Citation: In a narrative citation, the author’s name is included within the text of the sentence, followed by the date of publication in parentheses. This method integrates the source more seamlessly into your narrative.

Omitting the Publisher: When the author and the publisher of the press release are the same, as is often the case, the publisher’s name is omitted from the reference to avoid redundancy. In the example provided, Apple Inc. is both the author and the publisher, only the author’s name appears in the citation. Check for Consistency in Formatting: Ensure that all elements of the citation are consistently formatted according to APA guidelines. This includes using italics for the title, capitalizing only the first word and proper nouns, and placing the description in square brackets. Consistency in formatting helps maintain the professional appearance and readability of your citations. Verify the Source: Before citing a press release, verify that it is an official release from a credible source. Check the organization’s official website or trusted news outlets to confirm the authenticity of the press release. Citing verified sources enhances the reliability and credibility of your work.