How you cite always depends upon the style you are directed to use. Here are recommended ways to cite an advertisement using APA and MLA styles.
In both APA and MLA styles entries are double-spaced and require a hanging indent.
For APA Style (Reference List)
Print Ad:
Name of Company. (Year, Month). Title of image [Advertisement]. Title of Magazine, volume(issue), page number.
Internet Ad:
Name of Company. (Year). Title of image [Advertisement]. Retrieved from http://webaddress.com
Commercials: (fall under section 7.07 Audiovisual Media of APA Manual (p. 209-210):
- "List the primary contributors in the author position..." So, the author would be the company name.
- If it was broadcast on television, you should include the city it was broadcast in and the network that showed it.
Follow the examples below:
Company Name. (Year). Title of commercial [Television commercial]. City of Broadcast: Network.
If you viewed the commercial online, add a "Retrieved from" statement at the end with the url. Example:
Volkswagen. (2012). The dog strikes back: 2012 Volkswagen game day commercial [Television commercial].
Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-9EYFJ4Clo
Additional information on advertisements in APA style
For MLA Style (Works Cited)
See this from the MLA Style Center:
How do I cite an advertisement?
