How to Cite an Interview

Understanding Interview Citation Fundamentals

Interview citation proves more complex than standard source types because interviews exist in multiple formats requiring different bibliographic treatment—published interviews accessible through print, broadcast, or digital media demand full formal citation, while unpublished personal interviews conducted privately for research receive abbreviated personal communication treatment varying significantly by citation style. Understanding this fundamental distinction between published and unpublished interviews proves essential since citation mechanics differ dramatically based on reader accessibility and source verifiability.

Published interviews appear in newspapers, magazines, scholarly journals, books, radio broadcasts, television programs, podcasts, YouTube videos, or streaming platforms creating publicly accessible sources that readers can independently locate and verify. These interviews require complete citation following the format for the publication venue—magazine article format for print interviews, podcast episode citation for audio interviews, or video citation for YouTube interviews—with careful attention to whether interviewer or interviewee occupies author position depending on citation style and publication context.

Unpublished interviews encompass personal communications including face-to-face conversations, telephone discussions, email exchanges, text messages, video calls, or direct messages conducted privately without public accessibility. Most citation styles treat unpublished interviews as personal communication since readers cannot independently access private conversations for verification, though specific treatment varies with APA citing only in-text without reference list entry, MLA including in Works Cited, and Chicago using footnote citations without bibliography inclusion. Research methodology determines citation necessity since interviews conducted as original research data collection receive narrative description in methods section rather than formal citation.

According to guidance from APA Style interview guidelines, published interviews follow format for the source type where interview appears—if published in journal, cite as journal article; if appearing in podcast, cite as podcast episode—while personal interviews remain cited only in-text as personal communication without reference list recovery. This principle extends across citation systems recognizing that bibliographic purpose involves directing readers to accessible sources rather than documenting every information exchange.

APA 7th Edition Interview Citations

American Psychological Association (APA) format treats interviews in three distinct categories—published interviews appearing in magazines, newspapers, podcasts, or videos; personal interviews conducted privately as personal communication; and research participant interviews from original studies—each requiring different citation approaches based on source accessibility and research context.

Published Interview Citations in APA

Published interviews accessible through public media require full reference list citations following the format for the publication venue where interview appears. Citation structure depends on whether interview appeared in print periodical, podcast, video platform, or broadcast media with careful attention to author positioning since APA sometimes lists interviewer rather than interviewee as primary author depending on source presentation and accessibility.

For magazine or newspaper interviews, cite following article format with author typically representing interviewer or publication, publication date, article title including interview designation when relevant, periodical title, volume and issue numbers for magazines, page range when available, and URL or DOI for online access. Interviewee name receives integration into text rather than citation author position when interviewer or publication appears as source.

Podcast and Video Interview Citations in APA

Podcast interviews require citation as podcast episodes with podcast host or production company as author, publication date, episode title, podcast series title in italics, production company if different from host, and URL. Video interviews on YouTube or streaming platforms cite as video sources with uploader as author, upload date, video title, platform name in brackets, and URL.

Personal Interview Citations in APA

Personal interviews including face-to-face conversations, telephone calls, email exchanges, text messages, video calls, or private communications receive treatment as personal communication cited only in-text without reference list entry. APA considers personal interviews unrecoverable sources since readers cannot independently access private conversations for verification making reference list inclusion inappropriate.

Personal communication citations appear only within text using format: (Initial. Surname, personal communication, Month Day, Year). Integrate interviewer or recipient name, “personal communication” designation, and specific date when conversation occurred. This in-text-only approach applies to all unpublished communications regardless of medium—email, phone, in-person, or text message—since none provide reader-accessible verification.

Research Participant Interview Treatment in APA

Interviews conducted as part of original research methodology with research participants do not require formal citation since researchers do not cite their own unpublished data in initial study reporting. Instead, describe interview methodology in Methods section detailing participant selection, interview protocols, data collection procedures, and analysis approach without citing individual interviews as separate sources.

When quoting research participants in Results or Discussion sections, use participant codes or pseudonyms protecting confidentiality per IRB requirements without formal citations. For example: “Participant 7 explained that workplace flexibility improved work-life balance” or “One teacher noted, ‘Professional development opportunities remain limited’ (Teacher A).” Methodology description provides sufficient documentation of data collection without individual interview citations.

MLA 9th Edition Interview Citations

Modern Language Association (MLA) format uniquely requires Works Cited entries for personal interviews conducted by researcher alongside published interviews, distinguishing MLA from other styles that treat personal interviews as uncitable personal communication. This inclusive approach reflects MLA’s recognition that personal interviews represent primary source research deserving formal documentation even when unpublished.

Published Interview Citations in MLA

Published interviews in newspapers, magazines, journals, or online publications follow article citation format with interviewee occupying author position, article or interview title in quotation marks, interviewer name following “Interview by” phrase, periodical title in italics, publication date, page numbers when available, and URL for online sources. This structure prioritizes interviewee since interview content originates from interviewee responses despite interviewer facilitation.

Podcast and Video Interview Citations in MLA

Podcast interviews require interviewee as author when identifiable, episode title in quotation marks, podcast title in italics, “Interview by” notation with host name, production company or network, publication date, and URL. Video interviews on platforms like YouTube cite with interviewee or uploader as author, video title in italics, “Interview by” designation when applicable, platform name, upload date, and URL.

Personal Interview Citations in MLA

MLA uniquely requires Works Cited entries for personal interviews conducted by researcher including face-to-face conversations, telephone interviews, email exchanges, or video calls. Citation format positions interviewee as author followed by “Personal interview” designation and interview date. This approach documents primary source research formally even when interview remains unpublished and inaccessible to other researchers.

Email and Text Interview Citations in MLA

Email or text message interviews cite with correspondent name, subject line or message description in quotation marks, “Received by” designation with your name, and date. Format distinguishes email interviews as documented correspondence rather than ephemeral personal communication though MLA treats similarly to other personal interviews requiring Works Cited entry.

Chicago Style Interview Citations

Chicago Manual of Style offers two citation systems for interviews—notes-bibliography using footnotes or endnotes with optional bibliography entries, and author-date employing parenthetical citations with reference list—each treating interviews differently based on publication status and citation context. Understanding which Chicago system applies proves essential since notes-bibliography and author-date formats differ substantially in interview citation mechanics.

Chicago Notes-Bibliography Interview Format

Notes-bibliography system cites published interviews in both footnotes and bibliography with complete bibliographic information, while unpublished personal interviews appear only in footnotes without bibliography inclusion since readers cannot access private conversations. This selective bibliography approach reflects principle that bibliographies list only recoverable sources accessible for independent verification.

Published interview citations in notes-bibliography position interviewee as author with interviewer name following “interview by” phrase, interview title or description, publication information matching source type, and URL when applicable. Bibliography entries present same information with inverted first author name and different punctuation following bibliography standards.

Chicago Personal Interview Format

Personal interviews cite only in footnotes without bibliography entries using format: Interviewee First name Last name, interview by author (or interviewer name if not author), Location (for in-person interviews), Date. Replace “author” with specific name when someone other than paper author conducted interview. Anonymous interviews use descriptive identifier replacing name with explanation in text for anonymity rationale.

Chicago Author-Date Interview Format

Author-date system includes personal interviews in reference list with exceptions for anonymous sources cited only parenthetically or in text. Format lists interviewee as author with year, interview description, interviewer name, location, and date. Published interviews follow source type format with author-date structure suitable for scientific writing emphasizing publication year.

Archived Oral History Citations in Chicago

Oral history interviews with archival access require complete citation including interviewee name, interview title or description, interviewer name, archive or repository name, location, date, and access information for transcripts or recordings. Format recognizes archived interviews as accessible primary sources deserving full bibliographic documentation unlike inaccessible personal communications.

Harvard and Vancouver Interview Citations

Harvard Referencing Style

Harvard style treats interviews following author-date principles with interviewee as author, interview year in parentheses, interview title or description, interviewer name when relevant, medium designation, and access information. Personal interviews typically cite in-text only without reference list entry following similar logic to APA personal communication treatment, though institutional Harvard variants may permit reference list inclusion.

According to Mendeley’s Harvard citation guide, published interviews follow source type conventions with interviewee surname and year driving in-text citations while reference list provides complete attribution including interviewer, publication venue, date, and URL when available. Harvard’s flexibility across institutions creates variation requiring verification of specific institutional requirements.

Vancouver Citation Style

Vancouver style employed in medical and health sciences uses numerical citation system with interviews assigned sequential reference numbers. Published interviews cite following source type format—journal article, newspaper story, or broadcast media—with interviewer or publication as author and interviewee name integrated into citation when relevant. Personal communications including personal interviews receive in-text-only citation without numbered reference list entry.

Special Interview Citation Scenarios

Anonymous Source Interviews

Anonymous interview sources require careful handling balancing source protection with methodological transparency. Replace source names with descriptive identifiers like “senior government official,” “anonymous healthcare worker,” “unnamed industry expert,” or “confidential source” in citations while explaining anonymity rationale in text. Academic integrity demands transparency about why source identity remains protected—confidentiality agreements, employment protection, safety concerns, or sensitive information disclosure—even when specific identification proves impossible.

Citation formats accommodate anonymous sources through descriptive substitution though approaches vary by style. APA and Vancouver treat as personal communication with descriptive identifier, MLA permits anonymous interview citation with explanatory description, and Chicago allows footnote citation replacing name with role description. Crucially, explain anonymity necessity in text maintaining reader confidence in source credibility despite unnamed attribution.

Research Participant Interview Treatment

Interviews conducted with research participants as primary data collection for original studies require different treatment than published or personal interviews. Researchers do not formally cite their own unpublished research data in papers initially reporting findings since citation serves to direct readers to independent sources rather than documenting original research process. Instead, describe interview methodology comprehensively in Methods section detailing participant recruitment, selection criteria, interview protocols, informed consent procedures, confidentiality protections, data collection methods, and analytical approaches.

When presenting participant quotes or paraphrased responses in Results or Discussion sections, use participant codes, pseudonyms, or demographic descriptors protecting identity per Institutional Review Board (IRB) requirements and ethical research standards. For example: “Participant 7 described workplace challenges,” “Teacher A explained that professional development remained limited,” or “One nurse noted staffing concerns.” Methodology description provides adequate documentation of data collection without individual interview citations.

IRB-approved research with human subjects demands confidentiality through anonymized reporting using coding systems preventing participant identification. Assign numerical codes (Participant 1, Participant 2), alphabetical designations (Teacher A, Teacher B), or descriptive categories (experienced nurse, early-career teacher) replacing real names. Store separately maintained code keys linking identifiers to participants in secure locations inaccessible to readers. Some qualitative research employs pseudonyms creating narrative coherence though requiring careful selection avoiding culturally inappropriate names or inadvertent identification through unique characteristics.

Email and Text Message Interview Citations

Email and text message interviews represent asynchronous digital communication providing written records unlike ephemeral telephone or video conversations. Most citation styles treat email interviews as personal communication cited in-text without reference list entry since readers cannot access private email exchanges for verification despite written documentation. MLA represents exception requiring Works Cited entry for email interviews with sender name, subject line or message description, “Received by” notation, and date.

Email interview citations should reference specific messages relevant to cited information rather than entire email threads or ongoing correspondence. Include sender name, “personal communication” or “email message to author” designation, and message date enabling readers to understand information context despite inaccessibility. Text messages follow similar treatment as brief digital communication without formal citation beyond in-text attribution.

Consider whether email correspondence truly represents interview versus casual information exchange. Structured email interviews with prepared questions and substantive responses merit citation, while brief clarification emails or routine correspondence may require only acknowledgment rather than formal citation. Evaluate whether email content provides unique information unavailable elsewhere justifying citation versus secondary confirmation of published information.

Oral History and Archived Interview Citations

Oral history interviews preserved in archives with transcripts or recordings available for researcher access require complete formal citation including interviewee name, interview title or description, interviewer name, archive or repository name, collection name, location, interview date, access number or identifier, format (transcript or recording), and URL when digitally accessible. These archived interviews function as recoverable primary sources deserving full bibliographic documentation unlike inaccessible personal communications.

Archive citations acknowledge institutional repositories preserving historical interviews enabling scholarly access and verification. Include specific collection names, accession numbers, or catalogue identifiers helping future researchers locate exact materials. For example: “Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress” or “Columbia Center for Oral History Archives.” Digital oral history archives increasingly provide online access requiring URL inclusion alongside traditional archive location information.

Comparing Citation Styles for Interview Sources

Interview Citation Best Practices

Interview Documentation Protocols

Maintaining accurate interview documentation begins during research planning before conducting interviews. Create systematic protocols for recording interview details including complete names with correct spelling and credentials, interview dates and times, interview locations for in-person conversations, medium used for remote interviews (telephone, video call, email), interview duration, recording status and storage location, consent documentation, and any special circumstances affecting interview context. This comprehensive documentation proves essential when citing interviews months or years after conducting research.

For published interviews, capture complete bibliographic information immediately upon accessing source including publication title, interview title, interviewer name, interviewee credentials, publication date, volume and issue numbers for periodicals, page ranges, DOI or URL, and access date for online sources. Create preliminary citation entries during research phase preventing frustrating searches for missing information when writing with incomplete source details.

Ethical Considerations in Interview Citation

Interview citation intersects with research ethics particularly regarding confidentiality, consent, and accurate representation. Obtain informed consent before conducting interviews explaining how interview content will be used, whether names will appear in publications, options for anonymity or pseudonyms, and rights to review quoted material before publication. IRB protocols for human subjects research require documented consent though journalistic interviews may follow different professional standards.

Represent interview content accurately without distorting meaning through selective quotation or decontextualized excerpts. Provide sufficient context helping readers understand quoted statements within original conversation flow. For controversial or sensitive topics, consider offering interviewees opportunity to review quoted material ensuring accurate representation though without granting veto power over unflattering but accurate quotations. Balance source protection through anonymity against reader need for source evaluation through credentialing information.

Quotation and Paraphrase Guidelines

When incorporating interview content, distinguish clearly between direct quotations requiring exact transcription with quotation marks and paraphrased content summarizing interviewee ideas in your words. Both require citation though format differs with direct quotes needing page numbers, timestamps, or paragraph markers for published sources while paraphrases cite source without specific locators in most cases.

For audio or video interviews, consider providing timestamps for direct quotations enabling readers to locate exact passages in recordings: (Anderson, 2024, 12:35) or (Rogen, 2024, 1:04:22). This practice proves particularly valuable for podcast or video sources where page numbers do not exist but temporal location markers enable verification. Some style guides permit paragraph numbers for online sources without pagination though timestamps work better for multimedia sources.