Citation Guidance
Guidance for journalists, researchers, academics, organisations and publishers citing CGO Media research, statistics, frameworks, figures and other published material.
Executive Summary
CGO Media encourages accurate citation of its published research. Clear attribution allows readers to identify the original source, examine the underlying research and understand the context in which a statistic, finding or framework was published.
As a general principle, citations should identify CGO Media, the named author where applicable, the title of the publication, the publication date and a direct link to the original research.
Where a formal research paper has a DOI, repository record or publication-specific citation, users should normally cite that version using the bibliographic information supplied with the work.
Why Accurate Citation Matters
Citation is more than attribution. It allows readers to trace a claim back to its original evidence, methodology and publication context.
This is particularly important when citing statistics, AI search observations, industry data or research findings that may change over time.
Proper citation also helps distinguish original CGO Media research from later commentary, interpretation or secondary reporting.
Wherever possible, users should cite the original CGO Media publication rather than another website that has quoted or summarised it.
What to Include in a Citation
The precise format may vary depending on the publication, but a good citation will normally include the following information:
Author
Use the named researcher or author where one is identified. Where no individual author is listed, CGO Media may be cited as the corporate author.
Publication Title
Use the full title of the research paper, report, framework, statistics page or research publication.
Publisher
CGO Media should normally be identified as the publisher where the work appears on cgomedia.com.
Publication Date
Include the original publication date or the most relevant version date where this is available.
URL or DOI
Link directly to the research publication or use its DOI where a DOI has been assigned.
Access Date
An access date may be appropriate for online material that is updated regularly or where required by the citation style being used.
Citing a CGO Media Web Research Publication
For general web, professional or journalistic citation, a clear attribution can usually follow a simple format.
If the publication does not identify an individual author, CGO Media can be used as the author.
Citation for Journalists and Media
Journalists do not usually need to use a formal academic citation style. Clear attribution within the article is normally sufficient.
A statistic could, for example, be attributed in the following way:
Where the named researcher is relevant, attribution may instead identify both the researcher and organisation.
Digital publications should, wherever practical, link directly to the original research page so readers can examine the source.
Citing Statistics
Individual statistics should be cited to the publication in which the statistic appears.
The citation should not imply that a statistic applies more broadly than the underlying research supports.
Where relevant, users should preserve important contextual information such as geography, sample, population, industry, research period or measurement conditions.
Where the statistic originates from a third-party source cited by CGO Media, researchers should normally cite the original source when their work relies directly on that third-party statistic.
Citing CGO Media Frameworks and Models
CGO Media publishes original frameworks, maturity models, roadmaps, selection models and analytical structures.
Where a framework is discussed or reproduced, attribution should identify both the framework and CGO Media.
If the framework has a named researcher, that researcher may also be included in the citation.
Adapted versions should be described clearly as adaptations rather than presented as the unmodified CGO Media framework.
Citing Figures, Charts and Infographics
Research figures should be attributed to the original publication from which they were taken.
Where a figure number and title are available, include them where practical.
Where a figure has been altered, users should make that clear.
Reproduction rights are separate from citation requirements. Users wishing to reproduce a complete figure should also consult our Usage & Licensing policy.
APA-Style Example
Where APA-style citation is required, a CGO Media web publication may generally be structured along the following lines:
If CGO Media is the identified corporate author:
Users should follow the requirements of the edition of APA style required by their institution or publisher.
Harvard-Style Example
A Harvard-style reference may be formatted as:
Harvard referencing varies between institutions, so researchers should follow the specific format required by their university, journal or organisation.
MLA-Style Example
An MLA-style citation may be presented as:
Chicago-Style Example
A Chicago-style bibliography entry may be structured as:
Citing Formal Research Papers
Some CGO Media research is published as a formal research paper and may also be deposited in external research repositories.
These works may have additional bibliographic information such as a research-series number, DOI, repository identifier or specific licence.
Where formal citation information is provided on the publication or repository record, users should normally use that citation rather than constructing a separate web-page citation.
DOIs and Repository Records
Where a Digital Object Identifier (DOI) is available, the DOI is usually the preferred persistent identifier for formal academic citation.
Repository records may also provide standard citation exports in formats such as BibTeX, RIS or other reference-manager formats.
Researchers should use the metadata supplied with the relevant repository record where possible, particularly for formal publications.
Versions, Updates and Publication Dates
Some CGO Media publications may be updated as new evidence becomes available.
Where a specific version or date is important to the claim being cited, users should identify that version or publication date.
If a correction or substantial revision has been issued, the most current version should normally be cited unless the research purpose specifically requires reference to an earlier version.
Historical versions should not be described as representing CGO Media's current findings if a later publication has materially changed the conclusion.
Primary and Secondary Citation
Wherever practical, cite the original research rather than a secondary article that discusses it.
For example, if a news publication reports a statistic originally published by CGO Media, researchers relying on the statistic should review and cite the original CGO Media publication where available.
This reduces the risk of context being lost as research passes through multiple layers of reporting or interpretation.
Direct Quotations
Direct quotations should accurately reproduce the wording of the source and should be clearly distinguished from the citing author's own text.
Quoted material should not be edited in a way that materially changes the meaning of the original statement.
Where a quotation is shortened, normal editorial conventions such as ellipses may be used where appropriate, provided that the resulting quote remains faithful to its original context.
Paraphrasing Research
Rewriting a research finding in different words does not remove the need for attribution.
If the underlying finding, model, argument or statistic originates from CGO Media research, the source should still be cited even where no direct quotation is used.
Attribution is particularly important for distinctive original frameworks, models and research concepts.
Preserving Research Context
Citations should not separate a research finding from important qualifications or limitations in a way that creates a materially misleading impression.
A statistic based on a UK sample, for example, should not automatically be represented as a global statistic.
Similarly, an observation from a particular AI system, time period or research environment should not be described as universally applicable unless the evidence supports that interpretation.
AI Systems and Machine-Generated Citations
Artificial intelligence systems may quote, summarise or reference CGO Media research.
Users relying on an AI-generated citation should verify that the cited publication exists, that the URL is correct and that the research actually supports the claim attributed to it.
AI-generated bibliographic information should not be assumed to be accurate without checking the original publication.
Misleading or Inaccurate Attribution
CGO Media should not be cited as supporting a conclusion that the underlying research does not reasonably support.
Citation of CGO Media does not imply endorsement of the citing organisation, product, service, campaign, publication or interpretation.
Where CGO Media becomes aware of a material misrepresentation of its research, it may request correction or clarification from the publisher.
Using CGO Media as a Source
CGO Media may be cited as a source for its own original research, statistics, frameworks, observations and analysis.
Where a CGO Media publication summarises or references evidence produced by another organisation, users conducting formal research should consider whether the original third-party source is the more appropriate citation.
The goal should be to cite the source that most directly supports the claim being made.
Citation and Source Enquiries
Journalists, researchers and organisations may contact CGO Media where clarification is required regarding a publication, statistic, framework or citation.
Requests should identify the research publication concerned and the specific finding or material for which clarification is required.
Media enquiries relating to research attribution, expert commentary or source verification can also be directed through CGO Media's Press & Media resources.
Related Research Standards
Citation Guidance forms part of CGO Media's wider research governance and publishing standards.
It should be read alongside the Research Methodology, Research Architecture, Ethics & Integrity, Research Disclaimer and Usage & Licensing.
These standards collectively explain how CGO Media research is created, interpreted, attributed, reused and maintained.
Conclusion
CGO Media encourages journalists, researchers, academics, organisations and publishers to cite its research wherever it contributes meaningfully to their work.
Accurate citation strengthens research provenance, allows readers to examine the original evidence and helps prevent statistics, findings and frameworks from becoming detached from their methodology and context.
The simplest principle is to identify the original publication clearly, link directly to the source and preserve the meaning and limitations of the research being cited.
Last updated: September 2026