Interviews are invaluable primary and secondary sources for research papers, offering direct insights, expert opinions, and unique perspectives. Whether you've conducted a personal interview yourself or are referencing a published conversation, properly citing it in MLA (Modern Language Association) format is crucial for academic integrity. This guide will walk you through the specifics of citing various types of interviews, ensuring your research is accurately attributed and your Works Cited page is impeccable.
Understanding Interview Citations in MLA
Citing an interview in MLA follows the core principle of providing enough information for your reader to locate the source, if possible, or understand its nature. The format varies depending on whether the interview is a personal, unpublished conversation, or if it has been published in print, online, or broadcast.
Why Cite Interviews?
- Credibility: Shows you've done thorough research and consulted relevant sources.
- Avoid Plagiarism: Properly attributes ideas, quotes, and information to their original source.
- Reader Verification: Allows your readers to find and verify the information you've presented (for published sources).
- Academic Honesty: Upholds the standards of scholarly work.
General Principles for MLA 9th Edition
MLA 9th edition emphasizes a "template of core elements" for creating Works Cited entries. While interviews don't always fit neatly into every box, the goal remains the same: provide the most relevant information in a consistent order.
Citing a Personal Interview (Conducted by You)
A personal interview refers to a conversation you conducted directly with an individual that has not been published elsewhere. This could be face-to-face, over the phone, or via video call. Since it's not a published source, your readers cannot access it directly, so the citation focuses on identifying the interviewee and the nature of the communication.
In-Text Citation for Personal Interviews
For personal interviews, the in-text citation typically includes the interviewee's last name. If you introduce the interviewee in your prose, you might not need a parenthetical citation at all.
Format: (Interviewee's Last Name)
Example: According to Dr. Eleanor Vance, the shift in public perception was gradual (Vance). Alternatively, if you mention the interviewee in the sentence: Dr. Eleanor Vance noted that the shift in public perception was gradual.
Works Cited Entry for Personal Interviews
Since personal interviews are not published, they are treated differently in the Works Cited list. They generally include the interviewee's name, the type of interview, and the date it was conducted.
Format: Interviewee's Last Name, First Name. "Personal interview." Day Month Year.
Example: Vance, Eleanor. Personal interview. 15 Apr. 2023.
Important Note: If you interviewed multiple people for your research, ensure each personal interview gets its own entry in your Works Cited list.
Citing a Published Interview (Print or Online)
Published interviews are those that appear in magazines, newspapers, academic journals, websites, or books. Since these sources are publicly accessible, your citation needs to guide your reader directly to the published material.
Key Information for Published Interviews
Gather as much of the following as possible:
- Name of the interviewee
- Name of the interviewer (if specified and relevant)
- Title of the interview (if it has one)
- Title of the larger work (e.g., magazine, website, book)
- Publisher (if applicable)
- Date of publication
- Medium (e.g., Print, Web)
- Page numbers (for print sources)
- URL (for online sources)
In-Text Citation for Published Interviews
For published interviews, your in-text citation will typically include the last name of the interviewee and the page number(s) if applicable. If you're citing an online interview without page numbers, just the interviewee's last name is sufficient.
Format: (Interviewee's Last Name Page Number) or (Interviewee's Last Name)
Example: When asked about his writing process, the author stated, "Creativity often strikes in the quietest moments" (Smith 45). Alternatively, for an online interview: The CEO emphasized the company's commitment to sustainability (Johnson).
Works Cited Entry for Published Interviews
The structure for a published interview follows the standard MLA template for periodicals or websites, with the interview details integrated.
Example: Interview from a Magazine (Print)
If the interview has a specific title, include it in quotation marks. If not, describe it.
Format: Interviewee's Last Name, First Name. "Title of Interview" or "Interview by [Interviewer's Name]." Title of Magazine, Day Month Year, pp. Page Range.
Example: Angelou, Maya. "The Art of Living: An Interview with Maya Angelou." Essence, Mar. 1990, pp. 78-82.
Example: Interview from a Website
For interviews found on websites, include the website title, publisher (if different from the website title), date, and URL.
Format: Interviewee's Last Name, First Name. "Title of Interview" or "Interview by [Interviewer's Name]." Website Name, Publisher (if different), Day Month Year, URL.
Example: Obama, Barack. "Obama on the Future of Democracy." Interview by Ezra Klein. Vox, Vox Media, 12 Dec. 2022, www.vox.com/future-perfect/23507106/obama-ezra-klein-interview-democracy.
Example: Interview from an Academic Journal
Follow the standard MLA format for citing an article in an academic journal, adding the interview context.
Format: Interviewee's Last Name, First Name. "Title of Interview." Journal Title, vol. Volume, no. Issue, Year, pp. Page Range. Database Name (if applicable), DOI or URL.
Example: Butler, Judith. "Gender Trouble and Beyond: An Interview with Judith Butler." Interview by Vicky Bell. Theory, Culture & Society, vol. 16, no. 2, 1999, pp. 1-13. JSTOR, doi:10.1177/02632769922050479.
Citing a Broadcast or Podcast Interview
Interviews conducted on television, radio, or as part of a podcast series are also published sources, but their format requires specific details to help readers locate the exact segment.
In-Text Citation for Broadcast/Podcast Interviews
Cite the interviewee's last name in parentheses. If you mention the interviewee in your sentence, no parenthetical citation is needed.
Format: (Interviewee's Last Name)
Example: During her appearance on 60 Minutes, Dr. Fauci discussed the latest research findings (Fauci). Alternatively: Dr. Anthony Fauci, in his 60 Minutes interview, discussed the latest research findings.
Works Cited Entry for Broadcast Interview (TV/Radio)
Include the title of the episode (if applicable), the program title, the network, and the date of broadcast.
Format: Interviewee's Last Name, First Name. "Title of Interview Segment" (if applicable). Title of Program, Network, Day Month Year.
Example: TV Interview Gates, Bill. Interview by Lesley Stahl. 60 Minutes, CBS, 14 May 2023.
Works Cited Entry for Podcast Interview
For podcasts, include the title of the episode (if applicable), the podcast title, the host, the season and episode number (if available), the publisher, the date, and the URL.
Format: Interviewee's Last Name, First Name. "Title of Podcast Episode." Title of Podcast, hosted by Host's Name, Publisher, Day Month Year, URL.
Example: Podcast Episode Harari, Yuval Noah. "The Story of Sapiens." The Ezra Klein Show, hosted by Ezra Klein, The New York Times, 24 Jan. 2023, www.nytimes.com/column/ezra-klein-podcast.
Important Considerations for Interview Citations
Permission and Ethics
For personal interviews, always ask for the interviewee's permission to quote them and clarify how their identity will be presented (e.g., full name, anonymous, title only). It's also good practice to offer to send them the relevant sections of your paper for review before submission. This ensures ethical research conduct and respect for your sources.
Transcripts and Recordings
If you have a transcript or recording of a personal interview, you don't typically need to include it in your Works Cited entry unless it's stored in a publicly accessible archive. However, keeping these materials organized and accessible to yourself is crucial for verification if needed. For published interviews, the source itself (magazine, website, etc.) is the primary reference.
When in Doubt
MLA style is designed to be flexible. If you encounter an interview format that doesn't perfectly fit these examples, use the general principles of MLA 9th edition:
- Core Elements: Identify the author, title of source, title of container, other contributors, version, number, publisher, publication date, and location.
- Missing Information: Omit any information that isn't available.
- Prioritize Clarity: Your goal is to provide enough information for your reader to understand and, if possible, locate your source.
Accurate citation is a cornerstone of academic writing, demonstrating your integrity and meticulousness. By following these guidelines for citing interviews in MLA, you not only avoid potential issues but also enhance the credibility of your research. If you ever find yourself needing an extra layer of precision in your writing, or want to ensure your interview quotes are seamlessly integrated and impactful, remember that platforms like Humanize offer professional writing and editing services to refine your work to the highest standard.