How to Cite Interviews in MLA Format [2026 Guide]
Interviews provide valuable primary source material and expert perspectives. This comprehensive guide explains how to cite published interviews, broadcast interviews, and personal interviews you conduct yourself using MLA 9th edition format.
Understanding Interview Citations
MLA format distinguishes between published/broadcast interviews and personal interviews you conduct. Published interviews appear in print, online, or broadcast media and follow standard citation formats for those containers. Personal interviews are unpublished communications that require a different approach. Both types provide important primary source material for research.
Published Interview Format
Interviewee Last Name, First Name. "Interview Title." Interview by Interviewer Name.Publication Title, Day Month Year, pages/URL.Personal Interview Format
Interviewee Last Name, First Name. Personal interview. Day Month Year.Published Print Interviews
Magazine Interview
Morrison, Toni. "The Art of Fiction No. 134." Interview by Elissa Schappell.The Paris Review, Fall 1993, pp. 83-125.Newspaper Interview
Obama, Barack. "On Hope and Change." Interview by David Remnick. The New York Times, 15 Jan. 2026, pp. A1, A14-A15.Interview in a Book
Angelou, Maya. "Maya Angelou: An Interview." Interview by Jeffrey M. Elliot.Conversations with Maya Angelou, edited by Jeffrey M. Elliot, UP of Mississippi, 1989, pp. 156-189.Published Online Interviews
Online Magazine Interview
Atwood, Margaret. "In Conversation with Margaret Atwood." Interview by Emma Brockes.The Guardian, 20 Jan. 2026, www.theguardian.com/books/2026/jan/20/margaret-atwood-interview.Website Interview
Gates, Bill. "The Future of Technology." Interview by Sarah Johnson. Tech Today, 18 Jan. 2026, www.techtoday.com/interviews/bill-gates-future-technology.Academic Journal Interview
Butler, Judith. "Gender and Politics: An Interview." Interview by Peter Osborne and Lynne Segal. Radical Philosophy, vol. 67, 1994, pp. 32-39.Broadcast and Recorded Interviews
Television Interview
Winfrey, Oprah. Interview by Anderson Cooper. 60 Minutes, CBS, 15 Jan. 2026.Radio Interview
Coates, Ta-Nehisi. Interview by Terry Gross. Fresh Air, NPR, 20 July 2015, www.npr.org/2015/07/20/fresh-air-coates.Podcast Interview
Gladwell, Malcolm. Interview by Tim Ferriss. "Malcolm Gladwell on Facing Hard Problems."The Tim Ferriss Show, episode 662, 18 Jan. 2026, tim.blog/2026/01/18/malcolm-gladwell.YouTube Interview
deGrasse Tyson, Neil. Interview by Joe Rogan. "Neil deGrasse Tyson on Science and Society."YouTube, uploaded by PowerfulJRE, 19 Jan. 2026, www.youtube.com/watch?v=abc123.Personal Interviews You Conduct
In-Person Interview
Smith, John. Personal interview. 15 Jan. 2026.Telephone Interview
Johnson, Maria. Telephone interview. 18 Jan. 2026.Email Interview
Chen, David. Email interview. 20 Jan. 2026.Video Call Interview
Brown, Sarah. Zoom interview. 22 Jan. 2026.Survey or Questionnaire
Rodriguez, Carlos. Survey response. 17 Jan. 2026.In-Text Citations
Published Interview
Morrison discusses her writing process and sources of inspiration (115).Personal Interview
According to local historian John Smith, the building dates to 1845 (Smith).Interview in Sentence
In her interview with Terry Gross, Coates explained the origins of his book project.Multiple Interviews with Same Person
In our first conversation, Smith outlined the project goals (Smith, personal interview, 15 Jan.).Special Cases
Interview with No Title
If the interview has no official title, use a descriptive phrase:
King, Stephen. Interview by Larry King. Larry King Live, CNN, 15 Apr. 2008.Group Interview
Smith, John, Maria Chen, and David Brown. Group interview. 18 Jan. 2026.Anonymous Interviewee
Anonymous healthcare worker. Personal interview. 20 Jan. 2026.Interview Transcript
Morrison, Toni. "The Art of Fiction No. 134." Interview by Elissa Schappell.The Paris Review, Fall 1993, pp. 83-125. Transcript.Archived Interview
Kennedy, John F. Interview by Walter Cronkite. 2 Sept. 1963. John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston, www.jfklibrary.org/asset-viewer/interview-1963.Common Mistakes to Avoid
1. Starting with the Interviewer
Always begin with the interviewee's name, not the interviewer. The person being interviewed is the source of information.
2. Forgetting "Interview by"
Include "Interview by" before the interviewer's name to clarify roles.
3. Not Specifying Interview Type for Personal Interviews
Clearly indicate "Personal interview," "Telephone interview," "Email interview," etc.
4. Including Too Much Detail for Personal Interviews
Personal interviews don't need titles, locations, or extensive details. Keep it simple: name, type, and date.
5. Treating Published and Personal Interviews the Same
Published interviews include full publication details. Personal interviews only need the interviewee, interview type, and date.
6. Omitting the Publication Container
For published interviews, always include where the interview appeared (magazine, website, podcast, etc.).
7. Using "Interview with" Instead of "Interview by"
The correct format is "Interview by [Interviewer Name]," not "Interview with."
Research Ethics and Interviews
When conducting personal interviews for research:
- Obtain consent: Get permission to use quotes and attribute them
- Explain your purpose: Tell interviewees how you'll use the information
- Offer anonymity when appropriate: Some sources require confidentiality
- Record accurately: Take careful notes or record (with permission)
- Follow institutional guidelines: Check if your research requires IRB approval
- Verify quotations: Confirm accuracy with interviewees when possible
- Store records ethically: Protect interview recordings and notes
Finding Citation Information
For published interviews:
- Interviewee name: Usually prominent in the title or byline
- Interviewer: Often mentioned in byline or introduction
- Publication details: Same as you'd find for articles or broadcasts
- Date: Publication date, not interview date (unless specified)
For personal interviews:
- Interviewee name: Use full name as provided
- Interview type: Note the medium (personal, phone, email, video)
- Date: The date the interview occurred
Why Interview Citations Matter
Interview citations serve multiple important purposes. They credit sources for their time and expertise, provide transparency about your research methods, enable readers to assess source credibility and potential bias, document primary research you conducted, and create a record of expert opinions and first-hand accounts. Proper citation also protects you ethically and legally by showing you obtained and attributed information appropriately.
Published vs. Personal Interviews
The key distinction in MLA format is accessibility. Published interviews are available to readers through print, broadcast, or online sources, so they receive full publication details. Personal interviews are not accessible to readers, so the citation is abbreviated to just the essential elements: who you interviewed, how, and when. This distinction reflects whether readers can verify your source independently.
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Do I need IRB approval to cite personal interviews?
Check your institution's requirements. Student research often requires IRB (Institutional Review Board) approval before conducting interviews.
Can I use informal conversations as interviews?
Only cite planned interviews conducted for research purposes. Casual conversations don't constitute formal interviews for citation purposes.
Should I include the interview location?
Location is not required in MLA format, but you can add it in your text if relevant to context.
How do I cite multiple interviews with the same person?
Create separate entries for each interview date. Specify dates in in-text citations to distinguish them.
What if I found the interview in a database?
Treat it like a published interview, including database information if there's no direct URL.
Conclusion
Citing interviews in MLA format requires understanding the distinction between published and personal interviews. Published interviews follow standard citation formats for their containers (magazines, podcasts, websites), while personal interviews receive abbreviated citations reflecting their limited accessibility. Whether citing expert opinions from published sources or documenting your own primary research through personal interviews, proper citation practices ensure academic integrity, credit your sources appropriately, and enable readers to evaluate the credibility and context of your information. Always conduct research interviews ethically and cite them accurately to maintain scholarly standards.