# The Guardian API

> The Guardian workflow returns section headlines, searchable articles, and article text, available as a workflow and API.

The Guardian workflow’s List headlines method returns stories in section-page order, using a section and optional result limit. Search news returns articles matching required search words, with optional date range, page, result limit, and newest or relevance order. Read article returns article details and available full-text paragraphs using an article link or headline.

- Page: https://fous.com/tools/the-guardian
- Handle: `@the-guardian`
- Category: [News](https://fous.com/tools/category/news)
- Source website: https://theguardian.com
- Last verified: Sep 29, 2026

## Methods

### List headlines

Operation `list_headlines`, version 1. 1 credit per completed call. Failed calls without a completed billing receipt are free; completed work can remain charged if delivery is interrupted.

List Guardian story headlines in section-page order, with visible summaries, publication times, images, and article details. Cards without a displayed time or summary return null for that field.

**Input**

| Field | Type | Required | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| `section` | string | no | `"world"` | News section to list, for example world. |
| `max_results` | integer | no | `8` | Maximum number of stories, for example 20. |

**Input schema**

```json
{
  "type": "object",
  "properties": {
    "section": {
      "enum": [
        "top stories",
        "world",
        "UK",
        "US",
        "business",
        "environment",
        "technology",
        "sport",
        "culture"
      ],
      "type": "string",
      "default": "top stories",
      "description": "News section to list, for example world.",
      "examples": [
        "world",
        "top stories",
        "technology"
      ]
    },
    "max_results": {
      "type": "integer",
      "default": 20,
      "maximum": 50,
      "minimum": 1,
      "description": "Maximum number of stories, for example 20.",
      "x-fous-developer": true,
      "examples": [
        8,
        20,
        12
      ]
    }
  },
  "additionalProperties": false,
  "examples": [
    {
      "section": "world",
      "max_results": 8
    },
    {
      "section": "top stories",
      "max_results": 20
    },
    {
      "section": "technology",
      "max_results": 12
    }
  ]
}
```

**Output**

| Field | Type | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `stories` | array |  | Stories in section-page order. |
| `stories[].authors` | array |  | Named story authors, when available. |
| `stories[].section` | string or null | `"World news"` | Story section. |
| `stories[].summary` | string or null | `"Marie-Celestin Karondwa was attacked on Sunday after promoting measures to prevent spread of disease, his party says"` | Summary shown on the section page, if any. |
| `stories[].headline` | string | `"DRC politician beaten to death after radio appearance about Ebola outbreak"` | Story headline. |
| `stories[].image_link` | string or null | `"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/61403a8dd74d017285bb8150e824df568d851630/836_0_6055_4846/master/6055.jpg?width=465&dpr=1` | Story image link, if any. |
| `stories[].article_link` | string | `"https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/28/drc-politician-beaten-death-radio-appearance-ebola"` | Guardian story page link. |
| `stories[].published_at` | string or null | `"2026-09-28T15:54:25.000+00:00"` | Displayed publication time in ISO 8601, if any. |

**Example input**

```json
{
  "section": "world",
  "max_results": 8
}
```

**Example output**

```json
{
  "stories": [
    {
      "authors": [
        "Carlos Mureithi"
      ],
      "section": "World news",
      "summary": "Marie-Celestin Karondwa was attacked on Sunday after promoting measures to prevent spread of disease, his party says",
      "headline": "DRC politician beaten to death after radio appearance about Ebola outbreak",
      "image_link": "https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/61403a8dd74d017285bb8150e824df568d851630/836_0_6055_4846/master/6055.jpg?width=465&dpr=1&s=none&crop=5%3A4",
      "article_link": "https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/28/drc-politician-beaten-death-radio-appearance-ebola",
      "published_at": "2026-09-28T15:54:25.000+00:00"
    },
    {
      "authors": [
        "Rachel Savage"
      ],
      "section": "World news",
      "summary": null,
      "headline": "At least 27 dead after two mass shootings in South Africa, police say",
      "image_link": "https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/561329c2992e032b08d527eff4ceb02c8ab034bb/1132_51_2803_2243/master/2803.jpg?width=120&dpr=1&s=none&crop=5%3A4",
      "article_link": "https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/27/mass-shootings-south-africa-johannesburg-cape-town",
      "published_at": null
    },
    {
      "authors": [
        "Gloria Dickie"
      ],
      "section": "Environment",
      "summary": null,
      "headline": "‘It’s hard to sell a house when it’s covered in baboon faeces’: Cape Town divided over plan to remove its monkeys",
      "image_link": "https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/b576e04422ac1642fc081de911183cd9dd80af19/2658_2_5491_4393/master/5491.jpg?width=120&dpr=1&s=none&crop=5%3A4",
      "article_link": "https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/sep/27/baboons-cape-town-divided-over-plan-to-remove-its-monkeys-aoe",
      "published_at": null
    }
  ]
}
```

### Read article

Operation `read_article`, version 1. 1 credit per completed call. Failed calls without a completed billing receipt are free; completed work can remain charged if delivery is interrupted.

Read one public Guardian article by link or headline, including its details and available full-text paragraphs. Live blogs return the latest entries shown on the page; some older articles may be unavailable.

**Input**

| Field | Type | Required | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| `article` | string | yes | `"https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/sep/28/ai-godfathers-warn-of-runaway-intelligence-explosion"` | The article link or headline, for example https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/sep/28/ai-godfathers-warn-of-runaway-intelligence-explosion or AI godfathers warn of runaway intelligence explosion. |

**Input schema**

```json
{
  "type": "object",
  "required": [
    "article"
  ],
  "properties": {
    "article": {
      "type": "string",
      "description": "The article link or headline, for example https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/sep/28/ai-godfathers-warn-of-runaway-intelligence-explosion or AI godfathers warn of runaway intelligence explosion.",
      "examples": [
        "https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/sep/28/ai-godfathers-warn-of-runaway-intelligence-explosion",
        "AI godfathers warn of runaway intelligence explosion",
        "https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/sep/28/europe-ukraine-defence-ministers-pope-leo-france-visit-latest-news-updates"
      ]
    }
  },
  "additionalProperties": false,
  "examples": [
    {
      "article": "https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/sep/28/ai-godfathers-warn-of-runaway-intelligence-explosion"
    },
    {
      "article": "AI godfathers warn of runaway intelligence explosion"
    },
    {
      "article": "https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/sep/28/europe-ukraine-defence-ministers-pope-leo-france-visit-latest-news-updates"
    }
  ]
}
```

**Output**

| Field | Type | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `tags` | array |  |  |
| `authors` | array |  |  |
| `section` | string or null | `"Technology"` |  |
| `summary` | string or null | `"OpenAI chief scientist also among authors of report on prospect of ‘most consequential technological development in his` |  |
| `headline` | string | `"AI godfathers warn of runaway ‘intelligence explosion’"` |  |
| `article_id` | string | `"technology/2026/sep/28/ai-godfathers-warn-of-runaway-intelligence-explosion"` |  |
| `paragraphs` | array |  |  |
| `updated_at` | string or null | `"2026-09-28T19:29:02+00:00"` |  |
| `word_count` | integer | `738` |  |
| `article_url` | string | `"https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/sep/28/ai-godfathers-warn-of-runaway-intelligence-explosion"` |  |
| `published_at` | string or null | `"2026-09-28T15:00:36+00:00"` |  |
| `main_image_url` | string or null | `"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/aec7cba8735b2ae3c20055f3561db31f83275566/0_0_4714_3771/master/4714.jpg?width=465&dpr=1&s` |  |
| `main_image_caption` | string or null | `"Nobel laureate Geoffrey Hinton is among more than 20 authors of the report. Photograph: Johnny Guatto/University of Tor` |  |
| `full_text_available` | boolean | `true` |  |

**Example input**

```json
{
  "article": "https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/sep/28/ai-godfathers-warn-of-runaway-intelligence-explosion"
}
```

**Example output**

```json
{
  "tags": [
    "AI (artificial intelligence)",
    "OpenAI",
    "Anthropic"
  ],
  "authors": [
    "Dan Milmo"
  ],
  "section": "Technology",
  "summary": "OpenAI chief scientist also among authors of report on prospect of ‘most consequential technological development in history’",
  "headline": "AI godfathers warn of runaway ‘intelligence explosion’",
  "article_id": "technology/2026/sep/28/ai-godfathers-warn-of-runaway-intelligence-explosion",
  "paragraphs": [
    "Two of the “godfathers” of modern AI and senior executives at OpenAI and Anthropic have warned governments to prepare for an AI “intelligence explosion”, which they say could be the most consequential…",
    "A report co-authored by the Nobel laureate Geoffrey Hinton and the Canadian computer scientist Yoshua Bengio , considered godfathers of modern AI for their work in the field, urges politicians to act …",
    "The authors say they are concerned about an “intelligence explosion”, which they describe as a “dramatic AI-driven acceleration of AI progress, compressing advances that would otherwise take years int…"
  ],
  "updated_at": "2026-09-28T19:29:02+00:00",
  "word_count": 738,
  "article_url": "https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/sep/28/ai-godfathers-warn-of-runaway-intelligence-explosion",
  "published_at": "2026-09-28T15:00:36+00:00",
  "main_image_url": "https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/aec7cba8735b2ae3c20055f3561db31f83275566/0_0_4714_3771/master/4714.jpg?width=465&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none",
  "main_image_caption": "Nobel laureate Geoffrey Hinton is among more than 20 authors of the report. Photograph: Johnny Guatto/University of Toronto/Reuters",
  "full_text_available": true
}
```

### Search news

Operation `search_news`, version 1. 1 credit per completed call. Failed calls without a completed billing receipt are free; completed work can remain charged if delivery is interrupted.

Search Guardian articles by keyword, optionally narrowing by publication date and choosing newest or relevance order. Search coverage depends on articles indexed in the public news feed; older or less prominent articles may be omitted.

**Input**

| Field | Type | Required | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| `page` | integer | no | `2` | Results page, for example 2. |
| `sort` | string | no | `"most_relevant"` | Order matches by newest date or search relevance, for example newest. |
| `query` | string | yes | `"Tesla"` | Search words, for example Tesla. |
| `to_date` | string | no | `"2026-09-29"` | Latest publication date, for example 2026-09-29. |
| `from_date` | string | no | `"2026-09-20"` | Earliest publication date, for example 2026-09-01. |
| `max_results` | integer | no | `3` | Maximum articles on a page, for example 20. |

**Input schema**

```json
{
  "type": "object",
  "required": [
    "query"
  ],
  "properties": {
    "page": {
      "type": "integer",
      "default": 1,
      "minimum": 1,
      "description": "Results page, for example 2.",
      "x-fous-developer": true,
      "examples": [
        2
      ]
    },
    "sort": {
      "enum": [
        "newest",
        "most_relevant"
      ],
      "type": "string",
      "default": "newest",
      "description": "Order matches by newest date or search relevance, for example newest.",
      "examples": [
        "most_relevant"
      ]
    },
    "query": {
      "type": "string",
      "minLength": 1,
      "description": "Search words, for example Tesla.",
      "examples": [
        "Tesla"
      ]
    },
    "to_date": {
      "type": "string",
      "format": "date",
      "description": "Latest publication date, for example 2026-09-29.",
      "examples": [
        "2026-09-29"
      ]
    },
    "from_date": {
      "type": "string",
      "format": "date",
      "description": "Earliest publication date, for example 2026-09-01.",
      "examples": [
        "2026-09-20"
      ]
    },
    "max_results": {
      "type": "integer",
      "default": 20,
      "maximum": 50,
      "minimum": 1,
      "description": "Maximum articles on a page, for example 20.",
      "x-fous-developer": true,
      "examples": [
        3
      ]
    }
  },
  "additionalProperties": false,
  "examples": [
    {
      "sort": "most_relevant",
      "query": "Tesla",
      "to_date": "2026-09-29",
      "from_date": "2026-09-20",
      "max_results": 3
    },
    {
      "query": "Tesla"
    },
    {
      "page": 2,
      "query": "Tesla",
      "max_results": 3
    }
  ]
}
```

**Output**

| Field | Type | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `articles` | array |  |  |
| `articles[].link` | string | `"https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/sep/21/black-employees-accuse-tesla-fostering-discrimination"` |  |
| `articles[].authors` | array |  |  |
| `articles[].section` | string or null | `"Technology"` |  |
| `articles[].summary` | string or null | `"Lawyers say Black employees at Tesla experienced ‘rampant racism’ that was left unchecked for years at their flagship f` |  |
| `articles[].headline` | string | `"Black Tesla employees accuse company of fostering racial discrimination in major trial"` |  |
| `articles[].published_at` | string | `"2026-09-21T23:20:34+00:00"` |  |

**Example input**

```json
{
  "sort": "most_relevant",
  "query": "Tesla",
  "to_date": "2026-09-29",
  "from_date": "2026-09-20",
  "max_results": 3
}
```

**Example output**

```json
{
  "articles": [
    {
      "link": "https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/sep/21/black-employees-accuse-tesla-fostering-discrimination",
      "authors": [
        "Dara Kerr"
      ],
      "section": "Technology",
      "summary": "Lawyers say Black employees at Tesla experienced ‘rampant racism’ that was left unchecked for years at their flagship factory in California",
      "headline": "Black Tesla employees accuse company of fostering racial discrimination in major trial",
      "published_at": "2026-09-21T23:20:34+00:00"
    },
    {
      "link": "https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/sep/24/beau-lamarre-condon-trial-surfboard-bag-double-murder-jesse-baird-luke-davies-ntwnfb",
      "authors": [
        "Kat Wong"
      ],
      "section": "Australia news",
      "summary": "Former NSW police officer has pleaded not guilty to murdering Jesse Baird and Luke Davies before concealing bodies in bags bought from sports store",
      "headline": "Beau Lamarre-Condon sized up surfboard bag against friend before allegedly murdering Sydney couple, court told",
      "published_at": "2026-09-24T10:22:44+00:00"
    },
    {
      "link": "https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/sep/25/trump-xi-ai-arms-race",
      "authors": [
        "David Smith"
      ],
      "section": "Technology",
      "summary": "Xi’s state visit to the US emphasized personal rapport with the US president, rather than substantial agreements to pause their respective countries’ AI arms race",
      "headline": "Trump and Chinese president Xi end summit without major agreement on AI",
      "published_at": "2026-09-25T22:11:52+00:00"
    }
  ]
}
```

## Quick start

Replace `YOUR_API_KEY` with a Fous API key. To create one, open Developers at the bottom of Fous Studio, turn on Developer mode, then go to API keys (https://app.fous.com/keys). Change the values in `input` to run the same tool on new data.

```bash
curl 'https://api.fous.com/v1/query' \
  --fail-with-body --silent --show-error --max-time 180 \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  --data-raw '{
  "api": "@the-guardian",
  "visibility": "public",
  "operation": "list_headlines",
  "version": 1,
  "input": {
    "section": "world",
    "max_results": 8
  },
  "response": {
    "format": "json"
  }
}'
```

```python
# Save as fous.py and run with python3 fous.py. No packages needed.
import json
import urllib.error
import urllib.request

api_key = "YOUR_API_KEY"

body = json.loads("{\n  \"api\": \"@the-guardian\",\n  \"visibility\": \"public\",\n  \"operation\": \"list_headlines\",\n  \"version\": 1,\n  \"input\": {\n    \"section\": \"world\",\n    \"max_results\": 8\n  },\n  \"response\": {\n    \"format\": \"json\"\n  }\n}")
request = urllib.request.Request(
    "https://api.fous.com/v1/query",
    data=json.dumps(body).encode("utf-8"),
    headers={
        "Authorization": f"Bearer {api_key}",
        "Content-Type": "application/json",
    },
    method="POST",
)
try:
    with urllib.request.urlopen(request, timeout=180) as response:
        result = json.load(response)
except urllib.error.HTTPError as error:
    raise RuntimeError(f"HTTP {error.code}: {error.read().decode('utf-8', errors='replace')}") from error
if result.get("success") is False:
    raise RuntimeError(result.get("error", {}).get("message", "Request failed"))
print(json.dumps(result["data"]["output"], indent=2))
```

```typescript
// Save as fous.mts and run with npx tsx fous.mts.
const apiKey = "YOUR_API_KEY";

const response = await fetch("https://api.fous.com/v1/query", {
  method: "POST",
  headers: {
    "Authorization": `Bearer ${apiKey}`,
    "Content-Type": "application/json",
  },
  signal: AbortSignal.timeout(180_000),
  body: JSON.stringify({
  "api": "@the-guardian",
  "visibility": "public",
  "operation": "list_headlines",
  "version": 1,
  "input": {
    "section": "world",
    "max_results": 8
  },
  "response": {
    "format": "json"
  }
}),
});
type ApiResult = { success: boolean; data?: { output: unknown }; error?: { message: string } };
const result: ApiResult = await response.json();
if (!response.ok || result.success === false) {
  throw new Error(result.error?.message ?? `HTTP ${response.status}`);
}
if (!result.data) throw new Error("Missing API response data");
console.log(result.data.output);
```

## Use from an AI assistant

Connect this tool to Claude Code, Claude Desktop, Cursor, VS Code, Codex and any MCP client as its own MCP server. Each method is a typed tool whose arguments are the method’s input.

- Server URL: `https://api.fous.com/mcp/tools/the-guardian`
- Authorization: `Authorization: Bearer <Fous API key>`

**Tools**

- `list_headlines`: List headlines. 1 credit per completed call. Failed calls without a completed billing receipt are free; completed work can remain charged if delivery is interrupted.
- `read_article`: Read article. 1 credit per completed call. Failed calls without a completed billing receipt are free; completed work can remain charged if delivery is interrupted.
- `search_news`: Search news. 1 credit per completed call. Failed calls without a completed billing receipt are free; completed work can remain charged if delivery is interrupted.
- `fous_get_run`: the result of a run that was still going, by its `request_id`. Free.

Claude Code:

```bash
claude mcp add --scope user --transport http fous-the-guardian https://api.fous.com/mcp/tools/the-guardian --header "Authorization: Bearer ${FOUS_API_KEY:?Set FOUS_API_KEY to your Fous API key}"
```

To give the assistant every tool, connect `https://api.fous.com/mcp`: it finds one with `fous_search_tools` and runs it with `fous_run_tool`. Setup for other clients: https://fous.com/llms-full.txt.

## Use cases

- Track headlines across news sections.
- Find articles about a topic within a publication date range.
- Read available article text for research.
- Review story authors, summaries, publication times, and images.

## FAQ

### Can I run it with my own inputs?

Yes. Change the inputs in Studio and press Run, or send new inputs from your code, or ask a connected AI assistant.

### Can I call this The Guardian tool as an API?

Yes. Send a POST request to /v1/query with your Fous API key and the inputs, and get JSON back.

### How much does it cost?

Each completed run costs 1 credit. Failed runs without a completed receipt are free; completed work can remain charged if delivery is interrupted. With pay as you go, a credit costs 1¢. Monthly plans cost less per credit.

### Do I need a The Guardian account?

No. You only need a Fous account.

### How current is the data?

Fous gets the data from theguardian.com when you run it. Some results are reused for up to 24 hours, and results that use your account or key are never reused. It was last verified on Sep 29, 2026.

### Which headlines appear in a news section?

List headlines returns stories in section-page order for the section you provide.

### How can I find articles about a topic?

Search news finds articles matching your search words and can narrow results by publication dates.

### Can I read the text of an article?

Read article returns article details and available full-text paragraphs from a link or headline.

## Related

- [AP News API](https://fous.com/tools/ap-news.md): AP News provides reporting, up to 50 public-page headlines, searchable articles visible in its search, and full text when accessible.
- [The New York Times API](https://fous.com/tools/the-new-york-times.md): The New York Times provides current section headlines and summaries, keyword-matched public listings with dates, authors, sections and links, and Best Sellers lists for the latest issue or dates within a week.
- [The Verge API](https://fous.com/tools/the-verge.md): The Verge provides technology, science, entertainment, and policy headlines and searchable articles, including public stories and older archives, with search limited to the first 100 matches.
- [NPR API](https://fous.com/tools/npr.md): NPR returns displayed section headlines, searchable articles with summaries and publication details, and available article text; date-filtered searches may miss older stories edited much later.
- [The Wall Street Journal API](https://fous.com/tools/the-wall-street-journal.md): The Wall Street Journal provides news-section headlines and searchable public article headlines and summaries, with available story details and publication dates for search filtering.
- [Al Jazeera API](https://fous.com/tools/al-jazeera.md): Al Jazeera provides news and analysis, current section headlines and article details, plus keyword-searchable articles; searches and live blogs may show only leading matches or latest updates.
- [BBC News API](https://fous.com/tools/bbc-news.md): BBC News returns section-ordered headlines, searchable articles with dates, authors and sections (filters/newest sorting cover 180 matches), and article text with available latest live entries.
- [Reuters API](https://fous.com/tools/reuters.md): Reuters provides international news and reporting, with latest section headlines and keyword search; coverage and article details may be limited by access restrictions and news indexing.
- [All News tools](https://fous.com/tools/category/news)