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How to Cite Interviews in Academic Papers: APA MLA Chicago Format Guide 2026

Quick Answer: How to Cite an Interview in APA, MLA, and Chicago

  • APA: List the interviewer as the author. Personal interviews are cited in-text only as “personal communication” — they do not appear in your reference list.
  • MLA: List the interviewee as the author. Personal interviews must be included in your Works Cited list (the only style that does this).
  • Chicago: List the interviewee as the author. Personal interviews appear as footnotes only — “Interview by author” — and are not included in the bibliography.
  • Published interviews require the interviewee’s name in the in-text citation (even though MLA/Chicago list them as authors), while APA uses the interviewer’s name.
  • Broadcast, podcast, and online video interviews each have their own citation templates — they’re not formatted the same way as print interviews.

What is an Interview Citation?

An interview citation is the formal reference you include in your academic paper when you quote or paraphrase information from an interview. It tells your reader exactly where that information came from so they can find and verify the source.

Here’s what makes interview citations tricky: different citation styles treat the author position in fundamentally different ways. In APA, the interviewer is the author. In MLA and Chicago, the interviewee is the author. This single difference creates cascading confusion for students who don’t expect it.

Whether you’re citing a published magazine interview with a public figure, a podcast conversation, or an interview you conducted yourself for research, proper citation ensures your academic work maintains credibility and allows readers to locate your sources.

The Most Important Difference You Need to Know

If you remember only one thing from this article, make it this:

APA lists the interviewer as the author. MLA and Chicago list the interviewee as the author.

This isn’t a minor formatting detail — it’s the single most important distinction for interview citations. Here’s what that means in practice:

APA Style: Interviewer = Author

In APA 7th edition, the person who conducted the interview (the interviewer) is listed as the author in both the reference list and the in-text citation. For example, if you quote a Guardian interview conducted by Lisa Allardice:

Reference entry:

Allardice, L. (2021, February 20). Kazuo Ishiguro: “AI, gene-editing, big data … I worry we are not in control of these things any more.” The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/books/2021/feb/20/kazuo-ishiguro-klara-and-the-sun-interview

In-text citation:

(Allardice, 2021)

Note: The name in the in-text citation is the interviewer’s name, not the interviewee’s. If you’re quoting Kazuo Ishiguro, you need to clarify in the sentence that you’re quoting the interviewee: “Ishiguro argues that ‘the nature of capitalism itself is changing its model’ (Allardice, 2021).” That clarification matters.

MLA and Chicago Style: Interviewee = Author

MLA 9th and Chicago 17th edition both treat the person being interviewed as the primary author. This makes logical sense — the interviewee is the source of the content. But it means your in-text citation will use the interviewee’s name, not the interviewer’s.

MLA Works Cited:

Ishiguro, Kazuo. “Kazuo Ishiguro: ‘AI, Gene-Editing, Big Data … I Worry We Are Not in Control of These Things Any More.'” Interview by Lisa Allardice. The Guardian, 20 Feb. 2021, https://www.theguardian.com/books/2021/feb/20/kazuo-ishiguro-klara-and-the-sun-interview.

MLA in-text citation:

(Ishiguro)

Chicago footnote:

1. “Kazuo Ishiguro: ‘AI, Gene-Editing, Big Data … I Worry We Are Not in Control of These Things Any More,’ ” interview by Lisa Allardice, The Guardian, February 20, 2021, https://www.theguardian.com/books/2021/feb/20/kazuo-ishiguro-klara-and-the-sun-interview.

Chicago bibliography:

Ishiguro, Kazuo. “Kazuo Ishiguro: ‘AI, Gene-Editing, Big Data … I Worry We Are Not in Control of These Things Any More.'” Interview by Lisa Allardice. The Guardian. February 20, 2021.

Why this matters: If you use the interviewer’s name in an MLA or Chicago in-text citation, your professor will spot the error immediately. The interviewee is the author — not the interviewer.

Interview Citation Decision Tree

Before diving into the formats, use this decision tree to identify which citation template you need. The path you follow depends on whether your interview is published or self-conducted, and if published, what platform it appeared on.

Step 1: Is the interview published or self-conducted?

If you conducted the interview yourself as part of your research → Section 4

If someone else conducted and published it → go to Step 2

Step 2: If published, what is the platform?

  • Print / newspaper / magazine / journal → Section 5
  • Radio / TV / podcast → Section 6
  • YouTube / Zoom / website / online video → Section 7

Step 3: If self-conducted, what does your citation style require?

  • APA: In-text citation only (personal communication). No reference entry.
  • MLA: Works Cited entry required.
  • Chicago: Footnote entry only (not in bibliography).

This flowchart maps directly to the sections below. Follow it to find the exact format for your situation.

How to Cite Personal (Self-Conducted) Interviews

This is where students get the most confused. When you conduct an interview yourself for a research paper, the three citation styles handle it in three completely different ways.

APA: Personal Interviews = In-Text Only

In APA 7th edition, a participant interview (one you conducted yourself as part of your research methodology) is considered your own work and should not be cited formally. However, when you refer to something someone said to you privately, outside of the context of a formal interview, you cite it as a personal communication.

In-text citation format:

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

Example:

According to the project manager, the timeline shifted due to budget constraints (J. Williams, personal communication, January 12, 2024).

Crucial rule: Personal communication citations never appear in your APA reference list. They are cited only in the text of your paper because readers cannot retrieve them. This surprises many students who expect to format everything in their bibliography.

MLA: Personal Interviews = Works Cited Entry Required

MLA 9th edition does something unique: it’s the only major style that requires you to include personal interviews in your Works Cited list. This makes sense — MLA treats the interview itself as a source document, similar to a letter or email.

Works Cited format:

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

Example:

Collett, Jesse. Personal interview. 12 Jan. 2024.

Alternative format (if you specify the type of interview):

Collett, Jesse. Interview. Conducted by Your Name, 12 Jan. 2024.

MLA in-text citation:

(Collett)

Why MLA does this: MLA considers any source material — even one-off conversations — worthy of formal documentation. If your professor follows MLA strictly, you must include these interviews in Works Cited.

Chicago: Personal Interviews = Footnote Only

Chicago style treats personal interviews as your own research, not a published source. This means they appear in a footnote when you first quote or paraphrase them, but they do not belong in your bibliography.

Footnote format:

1. First Name Last Name (interviewee), interview by author, Month Day, Year.

Example:

1. Emma Smith, interview by author, March 31, 2021.

Important: The phrase “interview by author” signals that you conducted the interview yourself. Do not put this in your bibliography — it belongs only in footnotes or endnotes.

How to Cite Published Interviews (Newspaper, Magazine, Journal)

Published interviews — ones that appeared in a newspaper, magazine, journal, or book — are the most straightforward citation scenarios. The format varies by style, but the components are consistent: interviewee name, interviewer name, title, publication name, date, and URL or page numbers.

APA: Published Interview

Reference entry:

Interviewer Last Name, First Initial. (Year, Month Day). Interview title: Subtitle including interviewee name [Interview]. Publication Name. URL

Example:

Terry, G. (2024, March 15). A conversation with Maya Chen on climate policy [Interview]. The Atlantic. https://www.theatlantic.com/example

In-text citation:

(Terry, 2024)

Tip: Include the word “Interview” in brackets after the title to identify the source type. If the interview has no formal title, create a descriptive title in brackets.

MLA: Published Interview

Works Cited entry:

Interviewee Last Name, First Name. “Interview Title.” Interview by Interviewer First Name Last Name. Publication Name, Day Month Year, URL.

Example:

Williams, Angela. “The Future of Public Health.” Interview by Marcus Lee. National Geographic, 10 Jan. 2024, www.nationalgeographic.com/example.

MLA in-text citation:

(Williams)

Note: The interviewee’s name goes first in the Works Cited entry, and the in-text citation also uses the interviewee’s name — not the interviewer’s.

Chicago: Published Interview

Footnote:

1. Interviewee First Name Last Name, interview by Interviewer First Name Last Name, “Interview Title,” Publication Name, Month Day, Year, URL.

Bibliography:

Interviewee Last Name, First Name. Interview by Interviewer First Name Last Name. “Interview Title.” Publication Name, Month Day, Year. URL.

Example (footnote):

1. Maya Chen, interview by Grace Terry, “Climate Policy in the Next Decade,” The Atlantic, March 15, 2024, https://www.theatlantic.com/example.

Example (bibliography):

Chen, Maya. Interview by Grace Terry. “Climate Policy in the Next Decade.” The Atlantic, March 15, 2024. https://www.theatlantic.com/example.

How to Cite Broadcast Interviews (Radio, TV, Podcasts)

Radio, television, and podcast interviews require their own citation templates. The key difference from print interviews is that you include the program or platform name instead of a publication name.

APA: Broadcast Interview

Reference entry:

Host Last Name, First Initial. (Host). (Year, Month Day). Episode title (Season #, Episode #) [Audio podcast episode or TV series episode]. In Producer Last Name, First Initial. (Executive Producer), Program Name. Production Company. URL

Example:

Chen, Maya, M. (Host). (2024, March 15). Interview with Dr. James Patel: The future of urban sustainability (No. 127) [Audio podcast episode]. In Ideas in Action. Insight Media. https://www.example.com/podcast/127.

MLA: Broadcast Interview

Works Cited entry:

Interviewee Last Name, First Name. “Episode Title.” Interview by Host First Name Last Name. Program Name, Network or Platform, Day Month Year.

Example:

Martinez, Sarah. “The Future of Medicine.” Interview by Joe Rogan. The Joe Rogan Experience, Spotify, 8 Feb. 2024.

Chicago: Broadcast Interview

Footnote:

1. Interviewee First Name Last Name, interview by Interviewer First Name Last Name, Program Name, Network, Month Day, Year.

Bibliography:

Interviewee Last Name, First Name. Interview by Interviewer First Name Last Name. Program Name. Network. Month Day, Year.

Example (bibliography):

Martinez, Sarah. Interview by Joe Rogan. The Joe Rogan Experience. Spotify. February 8, 2024.

How to Cite Online and Video Interviews (YouTube, Zoom, etc.)

Online and video interviews are increasingly common in academic research, especially as qualitative studies incorporate digital platforms. Each citation style handles these slightly differently.

APA: Online/Video Interview

Reference entry:

Interviewee Last Name, First Initial. (Year, Month Day). Title of video [Video]. Platform Name. URL

Example:

Gates, B. (2024, April 3). Bill Gates discusses AI and education [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/example

Note: When the interviewer is more prominent or the focus of the content, list them as the author instead.

MLA: Online/Video Interview

Works Cited entry:

Interviewee Last Name, First Name. “Title of Video.” Interview by Interviewer First Name Last Name. Website Name, uploaded by Username, Day Month Year, URL.

Example:

Rodriguez, Elena. “Exploring Modern Architecture.” Interview by Michael Chen. YouTube, uploaded by Design Insights, 18 Jan. 2024, www.youtube.com/watch?v=example456.

Chicago: Online/Video Interview

Footnote:

1. Interviewee First Name Last Name, “Title of Video,” interview, Platform Name, Month Day, Year, URL.

Bibliography:

Interviewee Last Name, First Name. “Title of Video.” Interview. Platform Name. Month Day, Year. URL.

Example (bibliography):

Gates, Bill. “AI and Education: A Conversation.” Interview. YouTube. April 3, 2024. https://www.youtube.com/example.

Archival and Unpublished Interview Citations

Archival and unpublished interviews require additional information about the collection and repository. For archival interviews, include the interviewee’s name, interview date, collection name, box and folder numbers if applicable, and the repository name and location.

Chicago footnote (archival):

Frederick L. Hovde, interview by Robert B. Eckles, July 23, 1972, interview 8, transcript and recording, Purdue University Office of Publications Oral History Program collection, MSO 2, Series 1, Sub-Series 16, File 8, Purdue University Archives and Special Collections.

MLA Works Cited (archival):

ABC Sportscaster Lynn Swann interviewing FSU head football coach Bobby Bowden – Tallahassee, Florida. 1997-10-18. State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory. Accessed 24 Oct. 2024.

Purdue OWL emphasizes that unpublished interviews are “best cited in-text or in notes rather than in the bibliography” and that “if the interview is unpublished, but there is a transcript or recording available, you should include information as to where said transcript/recording can be found.” This applies whether the transcript is stored at a local archive or hosted online. Purdue OWL

FAQ

How do I cite an interview in MLA?

MLA lists the interviewee as the author, includes the interviewer’s name after the title, and formats the Works Cited entry as: Interviewee Last Name, First Name. “Interview Title.” Interview by Interviewer First Name Last Name. Publication, Day Month Year. URL.

How do you cite interviews in Chicago style?

Chicago uses a notes-bibliography system. The footnote format is: Interviewee name, interview by interviewer, “Title,” Publication, Date. The bibliography entry places the interviewee first: Interviewee Last Name. Interview by Interviewer. “Title.” Publication, Date.

How to cite an interview in APA style?

APA lists the interviewer as the author: Interviewer Last Name, First Initial. (Year, Month Day). Title [Interview]. Publication. URL. Personal interviews are cited as “personal communication” in-text only, not in the reference list.

How do I cite interview quotes in APA?

Use the standard APA parenthetical format: (Interviewer, Year). If you’re quoting the interviewee directly, clarify in the sentence that you’re citing them: “Ishiguro argues that … (Allardice, 2021).” The name in the in-text citation is always the interviewer’s.

Do I need to cite an interview I conducted myself?

It depends on the style. APA treats it as “personal communication” — cite in-text only. MLA requires a Works Cited entry. Chicago uses a footnote only. Always check your professor’s preferred style guide.

What if an interview doesn’t have a title?

In APA, create a descriptive title in brackets: [Interview with person’s name]. In MLA and Chicago, just write Interview in the title position without brackets.

For more citation resources, explore these guides:

Bottom line: Interview citations are straightforward once you understand the one rule that matters: APA = interviewer is author, MLA/Chicago = interviewee is author. Use the decision tree above to find the right template, copy the format, and apply it consistently. If you’re ever unsure, check the citation style guide your professor provided — it’s the final authority.