Mastering the nuances of documentation is essential for academic integrity, and knowing how to cite an interview in MLA format specifically requires attention to detail regarding the source type and availability. While the Modern Language Association provides clear guidelines, the distinction between a personal interview and a published interview often creates confusion for writers. This guide breaks down the process step-by-step, ensuring you accurately credit your sources whether the conversation was private or publicly accessible.
Understanding the Two Interview Categories
The foundation of citing an interview correctly lies in identifying its category, as MLA format treats them differently. You must determine if you are referencing a personal communication or a published broadcast. The core principle is that sources that are recoverable—meaning someone else can find them—require a Works Cited entry, while personal conversations that are not retrievable by others are only noted in-text.
Personal Interviews
A personal interview includes in-person conversations, emails, phone calls, or video calls where the content is not published elsewhere. Because these interactions exist only in the memories of the participants, they cannot be listed in the Works Cited. Instead, you must cite them parenthetically within your text, including the interviewee's last name and the date of the conversation.
Published Interviews
Published interviews appear in magazines, newspapers, journals, books, or on websites and are considered recoverable sources. These require a full entry in your Works Cited list because readers can locate the exact version you consulted. Citing these follows the standard format for the container in which the interview was found, such as the author of the article or the title of the webpage.
Citing a Personal Interview In-Text
When incorporating a personal interview into your academic writing, the citation occurs directly in the sentence or paragraph where the information is used. The MLA style prefers the author-date method, even though the "author" is the interviewee. This method maintains consistency with other source types in your paper.
Format and Placement
Place the parenthetical citation at the end of the sentence, just before the closing punctuation. The format is (Last Name Date). For example, if you interviewed Marie Curie on March 15, 2023, your citation would look like this: (Curie 15 Mar. 2023). It is generally recommended to mention the interviewee's name in your prose to enhance the flow of your writing, making the parenthetical citation simply the date.
Creating a Works Cited Entry for Published Interviews
For published interviews, the Works Cited entry provides the necessary metadata for readers to find the source. The structure depends entirely on where the interview was published. Below is a visual guide to the most common formats encountered by writers.
| Publication Type | Format Guide |
|---|---|
| Journal or Magazine | Last Name, First Name. "Title of Interview." *Title of Journal*, vol. number, no. number, Year, pp. page range. |
| Website or Online Publication | Last Name, First Name. "Interview Title." *Website Name*, Date of Publication, URL. Accessed Day Month Year. |
| Book | Last Name, First Name. Interview by First Name Last Name. *Book Title*, Publisher, Year. |
Handling Online and Multimedia Sources
With the prevalence of digital media, interviews are often found on podcasts, YouTube channels, or streaming services. When the interview is the primary title, cite it as you would any other web source. However, if the interview is an episode within a larger series, you must acknowledge both the interview title and the series title to provide proper context.
Example: Podcast Interview
If you are citing a conversation with Brené Brown featured on an episode of *The Social Sketchers* podcast, your Works Cited entry would prioritize the episode title in quotes, followed by the show title in italics. The format would be: Brown, Brené. "The Power of Vulnerability." *The Social Sketchers*, by Dr. Mark Brackett, Podcast, 10 Apr. 2021, www.example.com. Accessed 12 May 2023.
Final Tips for Accuracy
Always verify the specific details with the official MLA Handbook or a trusted style resource, as guidelines may update over time. When in doubt, prioritize providing more information rather than less; including the city of publication for print sources or the network name for television interviews can be helpful. Remember that the goal of citation is not merely to comply with rules, but to build a bridge of trust with your reader by demonstrating the legitimacy of your research.