Citing an interview correctly is crucial for academic integrity and giving credit where it's due. Whether you've spoken to an expert for a research paper or are referencing a published interview, knowing the proper format ensures your work is credible. This guide breaks down how to cite interviews in common styles, focusing on the key information you'll need.
When Do You Need to Cite an Interview?
You'll need to cite an interview if you directly quote or paraphrase information obtained from a conversation you had with someone, or if you are referencing an interview that has been published or broadcast. This includes:
- Personal Interviews: Conversations you conducted yourself.
- Published Interviews: Interviews appearing in books, journals, newspapers, magazines, or online articles.
- Broadcast Interviews: Interviews from radio or television programs, including podcasts.
- Archival Interviews: Interviews held in special collections or archives.
Key Information for Citing an Interview
Regardless of the citation style, you'll generally need to gather the following details:
- Interviewee: The person who was interviewed.
- Interviewer: The person who conducted the interview (often you, if it's a personal interview).
- Date of Interview: The specific date the interview took place.
- Location of Interview: Where the interview occurred (e.g., Zoom, phone call, in person at a specific place).
- Method of Recording: How the interview was captured (e.g., audio recording, video recording, notes).
- Publication Details (if applicable): For published interviews, include the title of the publication, editor/author (if different from interviewer), volume/issue numbers, page numbers, publisher, and year.
- Access Information (if applicable): For online or broadcast interviews, include the URL, broadcast station, or podcast name and episode number.
Citing Personal Interviews
When you conduct an interview yourself, you're essentially creating a primary source. The way you cite it often depends on whether you plan to make the interview transcript or recording available to your readers.
APA Style (7th Edition)
For personal interviews that are unpublished and not intended for public distribution, APA style treats them as personal communications.
- In-text citation: (Interviewee's Last Name, personal communication, Month Day, Year)
Example:* (Smith, personal communication, October 26, 2023)
- Reference List Entry: Personal communications are not included in the reference list because they are not retrievable by the reader.
If you intend to make the interview accessible (e.g., as an appendix), you would cite it differently, similar to an unpublished manuscript.
MLA Style (9th Edition)
MLA also treats personal interviews as personal communication when they are not published.
- In-text citation: (Interviewee's Last Name)
Example:* (Smith)
- Works Cited Entry: Similar to APA, these are generally not listed in the Works Cited unless they are published or made widely available. If you include them, you'd provide details like:
* Interviewee's Last Name, First Name. Interview by Interviewer's First Name Last Name. Day Month Year. Type of interview (e.g., Personal interview, Phone interview).
Chicago Style (Notes and Bibliography)
Chicago style handles personal interviews in a few ways, often with footnotes/endnotes.
- Footnote/Endnote:
1. First Name Last Name (Interviewee), interview by First Name Last Name (Interviewer), [Method of interview, e.g., phone call], [City where interview took place, if applicable], [Date of interview]. Example:* Jane Doe, interview by John Smith, phone call, October 26, 2023.
- Bibliography Entry:
Last Name, First Name. Interview by First Name Last Name. [Method of interview]. [City where interview took place, if applicable]. [Date of interview]. Example:* Doe, Jane. Interview by John Smith. Phone call. October 26, 2023.
Citing Published Interviews
Published interviews appear in various formats, and your citation will depend on where you found the interview.
Interviews in Books
APA Style (7th Edition)
If the interview is a standalone chapter or section in an edited book:
- In-text citation: (Interviewee's Last Name, Year)
Example:* (Miller, 2022)
- Reference List Entry:
Interviewee's Last Name, First Initial. (Year). Title of interview. In F. First Initial. Last Name (Ed.), Title of book (pp. page numbers). Publisher. Example: Johnson, A. (2022). My thoughts on modern art. In B. Chen (Ed.), Conversations with artists* (pp. 45-60). Art Press.
If the interview is part of a larger work by the interviewee:
- In-text citation: (Interviewee's Last Name, Year)
Example:* (Davis, 2021)
- Reference List Entry:
Interviewee's Last Name, First Initial. (Year). Title of book. Publisher. Example: Davis, L. (2021). Reflections on a life in science*. University Press.
MLA Style (9th Edition)
For an interview as a chapter/part of an edited book:
- In-text citation: (Interviewee's Last Name Page Number)
Example:* (Johnson 52)
- Works Cited Entry:
Interviewee's Last Name, First Name. "Title of Interview." Title of Book, edited by Editor's First Name Last Name, Publisher, Year, pp. Page numbers. Example: Johnson, Alex. "My Thoughts on Modern Art." Conversations with Artists*, edited by Ben Chen, Art Press, 2022, pp. 45-60.
Chicago Style (Notes and Bibliography)
- Footnote/Endnote:
1. First Name Last Name (Interviewee), "Title of Interview," in Title of Book, ed. First Name Last Name, page number(s). Publisher, Year. Example: Alex Johnson, "My Thoughts on Modern Art," in Conversations with Artists*, ed. Ben Chen, 52. Art Press, 2022.
- Bibliography Entry:
Last Name, First Name. "Title of Interview." In Title of Book, edited by First Name Last Name, page number(s). Publisher, Year. Example: Johnson, Alex. "My Thoughts on Modern Art." In Conversations with Artists*, edited by Ben Chen, 45-60. Art Press, 2022.
Interviews in Periodicals (Journals, Magazines, Newspapers)
APA Style (7th Edition)
- In-text citation: (Interviewee's Last Name, Year) or (Interviewee's Last Name, Year, p. #)
Example:* (Rodriguez, 2023) or (Rodriguez, 2023, p. 18)
- Reference List Entry:
Interviewee's Last Name, First Initial. (Year, Month Day if available). Title of interview. Title of Periodical, Volume(Issue), page numbers. Example: Rodriguez, M. (2023, March 15). The future of sustainable energy. Green Future Magazine, 10*(2), 18-22.
MLA Style (9th Edition)
- In-text citation: (Interviewee's Last Name Page Number)
Example:* (Rodriguez 20)
- Works Cited Entry:
Interviewee's Last Name, First Name. "Title of Interview." Title of Periodical, Day Month Year, pp. Page numbers. Example: Rodriguez, Maria. "The Future of Sustainable Energy." Green Future Magazine*, 15 Mar. 2023, pp. 18-22.
Chicago Style (Notes and Bibliography)
- Footnote/Endnote:
1. First Name Last Name (Interviewee), "Title of Interview," Title of Periodical Volume, no. Issue (Date): page number(s). Example: Maria Rodriguez, "The Future of Sustainable Energy," Green Future Magazine* 10, no. 2 (March 15, 2023): 19.
- Bibliography Entry:
Last Name, First Name. "Title of Interview." Title of Periodical Volume, no. Issue (Date): page number(s). Example: Rodriguez, Maria. "The Future of Sustainable Energy." Green Future Magazine* 10, no. 2 (March 15, 2023): 18-22.
Broadcast Interviews (Radio, TV, Podcasts)
APA Style (7th Edition)
- In-text citation: (Interviewee's Last Name, Year)
Example:* (Garcia, 2023)
- Reference List Entry:
Interviewee's Last Name, First Initial. (Year, Month Day). Title of interview [Description of medium]. Program/Broadcast Name. Network/Platform. Example: Garcia, R. (2023, September 10). Understanding AI ethics [Podcast episode]. Tech Talk Today*. Spotify.
MLA Style (9th Edition)
- In-text citation: (Interviewee's Last Name)
Example:* (Garcia)
- Works Cited Entry:
Interviewee's Last Name, First Name. "Title of Interview." Title of Program/Broadcast, Network/Platform, Day Month Year. Type of medium (e.g., Radio broadcast, Television program, Podcast episode). Example: Garcia, Ricardo. "Understanding AI Ethics." Tech Talk Today*, Spotify, 10 Sept. 2023. Podcast episode.
Chicago Style (Notes and Bibliography)
- Footnote/Endnote:
1. First Name Last Name (Interviewee), "Title of Interview," [Description of medium, e.g., radio program], [Network/Platform], [Date of broadcast]. Example:* Ricardo Garcia, "Understanding AI Ethics," podcast episode, Tech Talk Today, September 10, 2023.
- Bibliography Entry:
Last Name, First Name. "Title of Interview." [Description of medium]. [Network/Platform]. [Date of broadcast]. Example:* Garcia, Ricardo. "Understanding AI Ethics." Podcast episode. Tech Talk Today. September 10, 2023.
Tips for Accurate Interview Citation
- Be Consistent: Whichever style guide you're using, stick to its rules throughout your paper.
- Check the Source: If you found the interview online, verify the details from the original broadcast or publication if possible.
- When in Doubt, Err on the Side of More Information: It's better to include too much detail than too little when citing sources.
- Use Citation Tools Wisely: While tools can help, always double-check their output for accuracy. For complex citation needs, professional editing services like those at EssayGazebo.com can ensure everything is perfect.
Mastering interview citation is a valuable skill that enhances the professionalism and credibility of your academic work.