How to Cite a Public Statement in APA

Public statements are used in press releases and campaign trails to update a listening audience on current events. They are often verbally expressed, but can also be recorded in a written document. In either case, the American Psychological Association style guide, or APA, requires using an in-text parenthetical citation in the text of a paper. This style also requires a full bibliographic entry on a references page.

Instructions

    • 1

      Determine what type of source you will be citing. For example, you may have been present for the public statement and heard it yourself or the statement may have been recorded in a document for retrieval. These styles of documentation will require separate citation styles.

    • 2

      Create a bibliographic entry for a spoken public statement. This entry will appear on the "References" page at the end of the written work. Begin with the last name and first name of the speaker. Next, place a general title for the public statement in quotation marks, followed by a description of the event, such as a press release. Finally, include the location and exact date of the public statement. For example:

      Smith, John. "Public Statement on City Council Issues." John Smith Press Release. Anytown, State. 5 Sep. 2007.

      Indent each line after the first line.

    • 3

      Create a bibliographic entry for a printed version of the public statement in a government document. Include the speaker's name, the year in parentheses, the title of the publication in which the speech was recorded in italics, the place of publication and the publisher. For example: Smith, John. (2008). Government Report (89998). Philadelphia: Publishers Inc.

      Remember to indent any line after the first line and italicize the publication's name, items we cannot show you in this article format.

    • 4

      Create a bibliographic entry for a newspaper or periodical printing of a public statement. This entry should include the author's last name and first name, the year, month and day in parentheses, the title of the article, the title of the newspaper in italics and the page numbers. For example: Smith, J. (2008, Jan. 10). Public Statement. Daily News, p. 5. Once again, be sure to italicize the periodical's title.

    • 5

      Use an in-text citation within the body of a written work. This in-text citation should include the speaker's or author's last name and, if it's a printed version of a public statement, a page number. These items should be placed within a set of parentheses at the end of the sentence in which the information was used and before the period. For example: "The issues relating to the city council were clearly addressed by John Smith, who stated they would be discussed this coming week (Smith, 11)." If you are citing a spoken public statement you may simply use the speaker's last name.

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