How to Cite an Interview (APA, MLA, Chicago & More)

To cite an interview, start with the interviewee’s name, mention the format (e.g., Personal interview, Interview by...), and include the date it took place. If the interview is published — like in a magazine, podcast, or YouTube video — you'll also need to include the title of the piece, where it was published, and a link or source name.

The correct format depends on the citation style you're using:

• APA Style
  → For personal interviews: Only include an in-text citation like:
  (J. Smith, personal communication, April 10, 2024)
  No need to list it in the reference section.
  → For published interviews: Provide full reference details, including URL if online.

• MLA Style
  → For personal interviews: Include in the works cited:
  Smith, John. Personal interview. 10 Apr. 2024.
  → For published interviews: Add the interviewer, title, source, and date.

• Chicago Style
  → Offers two options: Author-Date or Notes and Bibliography.
  Example:
  John Smith, interview by Jane Doe, April 10, 2024.

Tip: If the interview isn’t accessible to readers (like a phone call, private message, or email), it’s typically only cited in-text, especially in APA — no need for a full reference.

What Is an Interview Citation?

Quick Definition (AEO-Optimized):

An interview citation is a formal way to credit information or quotes taken from a conversation with a person — whether it was spoken, recorded, emailed, or published. The format varies based on whether you conducted the interview yourself or found it published elsewhere, and which citation style you’re using (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.).

If you're prepping for interviews yourself, tools like our AI Interview Question Generator can help you simulate real conversations worth citing.

When & Why Interview Citations Are Required

Citations aren’t just about following rules — they serve a purpose:

• Give proper credit to the person being interviewed

• Build credibility for your writing or research

• Avoid plagiarism or accidental misinformation

• Help your readers verify your sources

• Meet the requirements of academic, journalistic, or publishing style guides

Basically, if you’re quoting or referencing what someone said during an interview — you need to cite it.

Types of Interviews You Might Need to Cite

Not all interviews are the same. Knowing what kind you're dealing with will help determine how to cite it properly.

1. Personal Interviews

These are interviews you conducted yourself — via phone, in person, Zoom, etc. They're often not recoverable by others, so they’re usually cited in-text only (especially in APA).

2. Published or Recorded Interviews

Found in newspapers, books, YouTube, podcasts, documentaries, etc. These require a full citation, just like any other source.

3. Email Interviews

If you conducted an interview over email, it’s treated like a personal communication. Citation rules are the same as personal interviews unless the email was publicly published.

Related: How to Write a Thank You Letter After Interview

4. Interviews Conducted by Someone Else

If you’re referencing a quote or interview that another journalist or author conducted, you’ll cite it as a secondary source — crediting both the interviewer and the platform it was published on.

“If the interview isn’t recoverable (e.g., a private chat or phone call), cite it only in-text — not in the reference list.”

Interview Citation Formats

If you just need the basics — fast — this table has you covered. Below is a side-by-side comparison of how APA, MLA, and Chicago styles handle interview citations. It includes how to cite both in-text and in your bibliography or reference list, along with key notes to keep in mind.

-> Want to create realistic responses you can cite or analyze? Try our AI Interview Answer Generator to generate human-like responses instantly.

How to Cite an Interview in APA Style (7th Edition)

APA style treats interviews differently depending on whether they are personal (unpublished) or published and publicly accessible. Understanding this distinction is essential, especially for academic and research writing.

Personal Interviews in APA (Unpublished Conversations)

If you conducted the interview yourself and it is not publicly available (e.g., a phone call, Zoom, or private email), APA does not require a reference list entry. Instead, you only include an in-text citation.

In-text citation format:

(Interviewee’s First Initial. Last Name, personal communication, Month Day, Year)

Example:

(J. Thompson, personal communication, April 12, 2024)

Important:
Since personal interviews are not recoverable by readers, APA considers them personal communications. They should not appear in the reference list.

Published Interviews in APA (Books, Podcasts, Videos, Articles)

If the interview is publicly available—such as in a book, on YouTube, or part of a podcast—you must cite it like any other retrievable source. APA requires a full reference list entry, along with an in-text citation.

Reference list format:

Interviewee’s Last Name, First Initial. (Year, Month Day). Title or description of the interview [Interview type]. Website/Platform Name. URL

Example (YouTube interview):

Musk, E. (2023, March 5). Interview with Elon Musk on AI and space [Video]. YouTube.

In-text citation:

(Musk, 2023)

Accepted formats for published interviews include:

• [Video]

• [Podcast episode]

• [Transcript]

• [Interview]

Choose the format that best matches the medium in which the interview appears.

Key APA Notes:

• Use sentence case for the title or description of the interview.

• If you're citing a podcast or video, include the platform name (e.g., YouTube, Spotify).

• Dates should follow APA’s format: (Year, Month Day)

Summary:

• Personal interviews → In-text only

• Published interviews → Full citation in references + in-text

How to Cite an Interview in MLA Style (9th Edition)

MLA style provides a clear framework for citing both personal and published interviews. Whether you conducted the interview yourself or are referencing one from a media source, MLA requires you to include it in the Works Cited page and format your in-text citation accordingly.

Personal Interviews in MLA

If you personally interviewed someone (by phone, video call, in-person, or email), cite it as a personal interview. Unlike APA, MLA does include personal interviews in the Works Cited list.

Works Cited Format:

Interviewee’s Last Name, First Name. Personal interview. Day Month Year.

Example:

Johnson, Maria. Personal interview. 12 Apr. 2024.

In-text citation:

(Johnson)

Published Interviews in MLA

For interviews published in newspapers, journals, books, podcasts, or online platforms, MLA requires more details, including the interviewer’s name, the publication title, and the date.

Works Cited Format (interview in a magazine or website):

Interviewee’s Last Name, First Name. "Title of the Interview." Title of the Container, edited/hosted by Interviewer Name, Publication Date, URL or page number.

Example (website article):

Gates, Bill. "A Conversation on Innovation." Wired, interviewed by Emily Chen, 5 May 2023.

Example (podcast episode):

Torres, Ana. Interview with Ana Torres. The Creative Hour, hosted by Max Rivera, 15 Mar. 2024, Spotify.

In-text citation:

(Gates)
or
(Torres)

Key MLA Notes:

• Use title case for interview titles (capitalize main words).

• Always include the interviewer’s name if known.

• If the interview has no official title, describe it briefly in italics (e.g., Interview with Jane Doe).

Summary:

• MLA always requires both in-text and Works Cited entries, even for personal interviews.

• Always include full publication info for published interviews, including the interviewer’s role if applicable.

How to Cite an Interview in Chicago Style (17th Edition)

Chicago style offers two distinct systems for citation:

1. Notes and Bibliography (often used in humanities)

2. Author-Date (common in sciences and social sciences)

Each system has a slightly different way of handling interviews. The key is knowing whether the interview is personal or published — and whether readers can access it themselves.

Personal Interviews in Chicago Style

For interviews you conducted yourself, you should cite them only in-text or in a footnote — not in the bibliography — unless the interview is recorded and publicly available.

Notes and Bibliography Format (Footnote Only):

1. Interviewee’s First and Last Name, interview by Your Name, Month Day, Year.

Example:

1. Laura Kim, interview by Ben Sharma, April 10, 2024.

Author-Date Format (In-text only):

(Kim 2024)

No bibliography entry is required for personal interviews under either system unless the interview has been archived or published.

Published Interviews in Chicago Style

If the interview was published — whether in a book, podcast, article, or online video — you should cite it fully, just like any other source.

Bibliography Format:

Interviewee’s Last Name, First Name. Title of Interview. Interview by Interviewer’s Name. Name of Platform or Publisher. Publication Date.

Example (podcast):

Yang, Andrew. Tech and Democracy. Interview by Sarah Cho. Future Voices Podcast. May 5, 2023.

Example (print):

Adichie, Chimamanda Ngozi. “Writing in the World Today.” Interview by Jake Dawson. The Paris Review, Fall 2022.

In-text Citation (Author-Date system):

(Yang 2023)
or
(Adichie 2022)

Footnote Format (Notes and Bibliography system):

1. Andrew Yang, Tech and Democracy, interview by Sarah Cho, Future Voices Podcast, May 5, 2023.

Key Chicago Notes:

• Choose between Author-Date or Notes & Bibliography, based on your context.

• Personal interviews = in-text or footnote only.

• Published interviews = full citation in bibliography and footnotes or in-text citation, depending on the system used.

Summary:

• Chicago is flexible — it adapts based on your discipline.

• Personal interviews go in-text or footnote only.

• Published interviews require full citations, like books or articles.

Looking for real examples of strong interview answers to cite? Start with our guide on answering “Tell me about yourself”.

MLA Example:

Need answers that follow the STAR method and are easy to quote? Check out our STAR method answer guide.

How to Cite an Interview Conducted by Someone Else

Sometimes, you're not the one doing the interviewing — you're simply referencing an interview that was done by another writer, journalist, or researcher. In this case, you're citing a secondary source. The rules for citation depend on how the interview was published and which style you're following.

When Do You Cite an Interview Conducted by Someone Else?

You might use this type of citation when:

• Quoting an interview you found in a magazine, book, podcast, or website

• Referencing an expert's opinion that was captured by a third-party interviewer

• Including a quote from a documentary or report that includes an interview segment

In these cases, you're citing the source where you found the interview, not the interview itself as a standalone.

APA Style

In APA, you cite the source where the interview was published — just like you would with any other media. There’s no need to call it a “secondary” interview explicitly.

Example (podcast episode):

Obama, B. (2023, August 1). A Conversation on Leadership [Audio podcast episode]. In J. Stewart (Host), The Insight Hour. Spotify.

In-text:

(Obama, 2023)

MLA Style

MLA also treats this as a standard source citation. You include both the interviewee and the interviewer, and reference the container (e.g., magazine, platform, series).

Example (web interview):

Rowling, J.K. "Writing for a New Generation." Interview by Dana White. The Guardian, 4 Apr. 2022.

In-text:

(Rowling)

Chicago Style

Chicago citations for interviews by others follow the same format as other published sources — with a clear mention of who conducted the interview.

Bibliography Format:

Branson, Richard. The Future of Business. Interview by Lara Woods. Bloomberg Businessweek. March 2, 2022.

Footnote Format:

1. Richard Branson, interview by Lara Woods, Bloomberg Businessweek, March 2, 2022.

Key Tip:

Always cite the source where you found the interview, not just the interviewee. The original context matters.

If you're referencing something that was quoted in a book or article, and you didn’t access the interview directly, you may need to cite it as a source within a source — and clarify that you're referring to a quote as it appeared in someone else's work.

How to Cite Interview Quotes In-Text

Once you’ve properly cited the interview in your reference list or bibliography, the next step is inserting quotes within your actual content. This is where clarity and consistency matter most — and each citation style handles it a little differently.

This section shows you how to format interview quotes directly in your writing, whether you're quoting one sentence or including a longer response.

APA Style (7th Edition)

For personal interviews, APA requires in-text citations only — no reference list entry.

“We underestimated the market by at least two years,” (L. Chen, personal communication, May 3, 2024).

If you're paraphrasing rather than quoting directly:

According to L. Chen (personal communication, May 3, 2024), the company’s projections were delayed due to supply chain issues.

For published interviews, include the author/date in-text and ensure the full citation is in the reference list.

“AI won’t replace jobs — it’ll reshape them,” (Musk, 2023).

MLA Style (9th Edition)

In MLA, interviews are cited with just the interviewee’s last name in parentheses:

“Poetry doesn’t have to be complex to be powerful,” (Smith).

For longer quotes (more than four lines), use block formatting, followed by the citation:

Smith explained,

“Poetry works best when it’s stripped of ego.
It’s not about the poet.
It’s about the moment being captured.” (Smith)

Chicago Style

Notes and Bibliography system: Use footnotes instead of in-text citations.

*“The best ideas often come from boredom.”*¹

¹ Interview with Marcus Lee by Kara Wong, April 10, 2024.

Author-Date system: Use a parenthetical reference like this:

“The real shift in tech is cultural, not technical” (Lee 2024).

General Formatting Tips (All Styles)

• Introduce the quote with context: who said it and why it matters

• Use quotation marks for short quotes

• Use block quotes for longer excerpts (usually 40+ words in APA, 4+ lines in MLA)

• Always attribute the speaker clearly — especially if both the interviewee and interviewer are being discussed

Summary:

• Match your in-text formatting to your citation style

• Personal interviews usually get in-text only (APA), while published ones require full source citations

• When in doubt, always include the speaker’s name and date of the interview

How to Cite Interviews in Bibliographies or Reference Lists

When it comes to your bibliography or reference list, how you cite an interview depends entirely on who conducted it, how it was shared, and which citation style you're using. Below are the correct formats for APA, MLA, and Chicago — with style-specific notes to help you avoid common formatting mistakes.

APA Style (7th Edition)

Personal interviews are considered non-recoverable sources, so they’re not included in the reference list. Cite them in-text only.

Published interviews, on the other hand, require a full reference list entry.

Format:

Lastname, F. M. (Year, Month Day). Title or description of interview [Format]. Platform or Publisher. URL

Example (YouTube video):

Patel, N. (2023, August 4). Talking growth hacks with Neil Patel [Video]. YouTube.

Example (Podcast):

Harris, S. (2022, October 15). Consciousness and AI: An Interview with Sam Harris [Audio podcast episode]. The Future Talk. Spotify.

Tip: Always include the format (e.g., [Video], [Podcast episode]) in square brackets and italicize the title or description.

MLA Style (9th Edition)

MLA includes both personal and published interviews in the Works Cited list. For published interviews, be sure to include all contributors (e.g., interviewer), container titles (magazine, show, platform), and access details if online.

Format (personal):

Interviewee Lastname, Firstname. Personal interview. Day Month Year.

Format (published):

Interviewee Lastname, Firstname. "Title of Interview." Container Title, conducted by Interviewer Name, Day Month Year, URL or page range.

Example (email interview):

Rios, Elena. Personal interview. 20 Mar. 2024.

Example (website):

Coel, Michaela. "Writing from Survival." The Atlantic, conducted by Jeffrey Rosen, 12 Dec. 2023.

Chicago Style (17th Edition)

In Notes and Bibliography style, personal interviews are cited in footnotes only and not listed in the bibliography unless formally published or archived.

Published interviews, however, should appear in the bibliography with full citation details.

Bibliography Format:

Interviewee Lastname, Firstname. "Interview Title." Interview by Interviewer Firstname Lastname. Source Title, Month Day, Year.

Example (print):

Arundhati Roy. "Power, Protest, and Poetry." Interview by Priya Sen. Harper’s, June 2023.

Example (podcast):

Dyson, Eric. The Future of Science. Interview by Alana Diaz. Mind Matters, March 8, 2024. Spotify.

Reminder:

• Use italicization and title case for interview titles (MLA, Chicago)

• APA uses sentence case and brackets for medium formatting

• Always prioritize accessibility — if your source isn’t recoverable, treat it as personal and omit it from your reference list

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Citing Interviews

Even experienced writers and researchers make errors when citing interviews — especially when switching between citation styles or dealing with less common formats like email or video. Here are the most frequent issues and how to steer clear of them.

1. Adding Personal Interviews to the Reference List in APA

Mistake:
Including personal interviews (like a phone call or email) in the reference list.

Why it’s wrong:
APA considers unrecoverable sources as personal communication, which should be cited in-text only, not in the reference list.

Fix:
Use an in-text citation only:

(J. Lee, personal communication, March 5, 2024)

2. Forgetting the Interviewer's Name in MLA or Chicago

Mistake:
Citing the interviewee but leaving out the interviewer in published interviews.

Why it’s wrong:
In MLA and Chicago, the interviewer is a key contributor and must be credited, especially for journalistic or podcast-style interviews.

Fix:
Include “Interview by [Interviewer’s Name]” in the citation:

"Title of Interview." Interview by Jane Smith...

3. Confusing the Interview Format

Mistake:
Not distinguishing between a personal, published, or third-party interview.

Why it matters:
Each format has a different citation structure. Mixing them up leads to incomplete or inaccurate citations.

Fix:
Ask: Can the reader access this interview?

• If yes → Treat it as published

• If no → Treat it as personal

4. Missing the Publication Date or Platform

Mistake:
Leaving out the date or source platform (e.g., YouTube, Spotify, website).

Fix:
Always include:

• The exact publication date (APA needs full Month Day, Year)

• The platform or container title (especially in APA/MLA)

• A working URL if applicable

5. Inconsistent Formatting Between In-Text and Reference Entries

Mistake:
Using a name or date in the in-text citation that doesn’t match what’s listed in the bibliography.

Fix:
Double-check that:

• Names are spelled identically

• Dates match exactly

• Titles are consistent (especially in APA vs. MLA capitalization)

6. Using the Wrong Case Style

Mistake:
Capitalizing titles incorrectly — for example, applying MLA title case in an APA-style citation.

Fix:

• APA: Sentence case (capitalize only the first word and proper nouns)

• MLA/Chicago: Title case (capitalize major words)

Quick Checklist Before You Hit Publish or Submit:

• Did I identify the type of interview correctly (personal or published)?

• Am I using the correct citation format for my style guide?

• Is the interviewer credited (if required)?

• Are all in-text citations matched in the reference list (if needed)?

• Are URLs and platforms listed accurately?

When Not to Cite an Interview

Not every conversation or comment needs to be formally cited. In fact, there are times when citing an interview can actually be inappropriate — especially if the source isn’t verifiable, is off-the-record, or was meant to be private.

Here’s when you should avoid citing an interview — and what to do instead.

1. The Interview Was Informal or Off-the-Record

Example: A casual chat over coffee, an unscheduled comment at an event, or a DM on Instagram.

Why not cite it?
If the conversation wasn't conducted for the purpose of being quoted — or wasn’t recorded or documented — it’s considered informal. Most style guides discourage citing off-the-record sources unless you’ve received permission.

What to do instead:

• Use the idea as background knowledge, not a direct quote

• Rephrase it in general terms or seek a more formal source

2. The Interviewee Requested Anonymity

Why not cite it?
Citing an anonymous source weakens the credibility of the citation — and might violate the person’s privacy or trust.

What to do instead:

• Refer to the person in broad terms: “A software engineer at a Fortune 500 company...”

• Do not include a name or specific identifying info

• Don’t include it in the reference list or works cited

3. The Interview Is Already Quoted Elsewhere

Why not cite it directly?
If you’re quoting an interview that’s already been referenced in a book or article, and you didn’t access the original interview, you should treat it as a secondary source.

What to do instead:

• Cite the source where you found the interview

• Add a note if the quote is attributed to someone else

Example (MLA):

As reported by Thompson in The New Yorker, “This decision was a turning point.”

4. The Interview Doesn’t Add Verifiable Value

Why not cite it?
If the quote is anecdotal, lacks relevance, or can’t be independently confirmed, it may not hold up to academic or editorial standards.

What to do instead:

• Replace it with a verifiable, published quote

• Use it to guide your own conclusions but don’t cite it directly

Summary: Don’t Cite If…

• The conversation was private, casual, or off the record

• The source can’t be accessed by your reader

• The person asked to remain anonymous

• You’re referencing the quote secondhand

Citation Tools & Generators for Interview Citations

Citing interviews manually can be tedious — especially when switching between APA, MLA, and Chicago. That’s where citation generators come in. These tools help you format interviews (and other sources) quickly and correctly, saving you time and reducing the risk of errors.

Here’s a list of reliable tools you can recommend (or even integrate with your own product, like Interview Sidekick 👀).

1. Zotero

A free, open-source citation manager that allows you to:

• Save interview source details

• Generate citations in APA, MLA, and Chicago

• Export to Word, Google Docs, or BibTeX

• Store and tag different interview types (email, video, podcast, etc.)

Best for: Researchers, students, and anyone who needs a personal citation library.

2. Citation Machine by Chegg

A web-based tool where you can enter interview details manually and generate formatted citations instantly.

• Supports APA, MLA, Chicago, and more

• Has dropdowns for media types like podcasts, websites, or "interview"

• Offers real-time formatting previews

Best for: Quick citation creation without account sign-up.

3. MyBib

A sleek, ad-free alternative to Citation Machine that:

• Supports all major styles

• Lets you auto-fill or manually enter details

• Exports to multiple formats and integrates with Google Docs

Best for: Clean UX and reliable formatting across citation types.

4. EasyBib

Similar to Citation Machine but with stronger focus on academic papers.

• Includes citation templates for personal and published interviews

• Offers guides and citation tips alongside the tool

• Integrates with many school writing platforms

Best for: High school and college students writing formal papers.

5. Google Docs Citation Tool

Inside Google Docs, under Tools → Citations, you can manually enter interview details and insert citations directly into your document.

• Supports APA, MLA, and Chicago

• Auto-generates bibliography entries

• No third-party account needed

Best for: Google Docs users who want built-in citation support.

Pro Tip: Use AI for Fast Formatting

You can also prompt ChatGPT or any generative AI with:

“Cite this interview in APA format…”
Then paste in the details — like interviewee, interviewer, date, and platform — and let it build the citation for you.

Summary:
Using the right citation tool saves time and ensures consistency — especially when working across different formats. Whether you're citing a personal interview, a YouTube conversation, or a podcast appearance, these tools can help you format everything correctly in just a few clicks.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) — How to Cite an Interview

How do you do a citation for an interview?

To cite an interview, include the interviewee’s name, the type of interview (e.g., personal, published), the date it took place, and, if it’s published, the platform or source.

• In APA, personal interviews are cited only in-text.

• In MLA and Chicago, both personal and published interviews are listed in the Works Cited or bibliography.

How do you cite a personal interview in APA format?

In APA, a personal interview is considered unrecoverable, so it should only appear as an in-text citation:

(R. Kapoor, personal communication, March 8, 2024)

You do not include it in the reference list.

How do you cite a published interview in MLA?

MLA format requires you to include the interviewee, title, interviewer (if known), source, and date:

Johnson, Mira. "Designing for People." Wired, interviewed by Sam Wu, 5 Feb. 2023, www.wired.com/johnson-interview.

You also cite the interviewee’s last name in-text:

(Johnson)

How do you cite a podcast interview in Chicago style?

In Chicago Notes and Bibliography format, you’d format a podcast interview like this:

Smith, Jordan. Future of AI. Interview by Lisa Turner. The Vision Podcast. July 12, 2023. Spotify.

If you’re using the Author-Date system, include an in-text citation like:

(Smith 2023)

How to cite an interview someone else conducted?

You cite the source where you found the interview, not the interviewer directly — unless the style guide requires it (like MLA and Chicago).

Musk, Elon. "Life on Mars." BBC Future, interviewed by Clara Walsh, 10 Aug. 2022.

Can I cite an email interview?

Yes. In APA, it’s treated as a personal communication (in-text only).
In MLA and Chicago, it’s treated as a personal interview and included in your reference list or bibliography.

What if the interview is anonymous?

If the interviewee asked to remain anonymous, describe them generally and avoid including identifying details:

A marketing manager at a Fortune 500 company (personal communication, April 2024)

Do not list it in your reference list (APA) or use a name (MLA/Chicago).

Do I need to include interviews in the bibliography or works cited?

• APA: Only published interviews go in the reference list

• MLA: All interviews (personal or published) go in the Works Cited

• Chicago: Personal interviews = footnote only; published = bibliography

How to cite an interview quote inside an article or blog post?

Introduce the speaker clearly, then use quotation marks and the correct in-text format for your style:

As Dr. Maya Lin explained in the interview, “Public space should invite emotion.” (Lin, 2023)

Conclusion

Citing interviews might seem tricky at first, but once you know the rules for each style guide, it becomes second nature. The most important step is knowing what type of interview you’re working with — personal or published — and applying the right format accordingly.

Here’s your quick recap:

• APA Style: Personal interviews are in-text only; published interviews need full citations

• MLA Style: Cite everything in the Works Cited — include the interviewer and source

• Chicago Style: Choose between footnotes or author-date; published interviews go in the bibliography, personal ones stay in the notes

If you’re ever unsure, return to this guide — or use one of the citation tools we recommended above to save time and avoid formatting mistakes.