Here’s a quick overview of how to cite an interview in MLA style 9th edition.
Interview – Published in a magazine, newspaper, website, or on TV/radio.
Here’s a run-through of everything this page includes:
Interviewee Last, First M. “Interview Title.” Interview by First M. Last. Magazine Name, Date Month Year, pp. page number(s).
Obama, Michelle. “Oprah Talks to Michelle Obama.” Interview by Oprah Winfrey. O, The Oprah Magazine, Apr. 2009, pp. 116-125.
Last Name of Interviewee, First Name M. Type of Interview (Personal Interview, Phone Interview, Skype Interview, etc.). Date.
Cloyd, Allison. Personal interview. 24 July 2014.
(Interviewee Last Name Page #)
Interviews include interactions in both writing a speaking.
Written interviews include published and unpublished renditions of in-person interviews and email interviews, which all follow slightly different formats.
Published interview in print
To write a published interview citation:
Works cited entry example:
Johnson, Crystal. “Crystal’s Everyday Life.” Interview by Elizabeth Miller. The Hypothetical Interviewers’ Column, May 2020, pp. 19-20.
Published interview found online
To write a published interview citation found online:
Works cited entry example:
Johnson, Crystal. “Crystal’s Everyday Life.” Interview by Elizabeth Miller. The Hypothetical Interviewers’ Column, May 2020, http://hypothetical_interviewers_com_CJohnson. Accessed 1 May 2021.
Note: If the interview you’re trying to cite is formatted as a video posted on YouTube, this guide on citing a YouTube video in MLA can help!
Interview via email
To write an email citation:
Works cited entry example:
Adams, Tyler. “Re: Job Application for the Writing Center.” Received by Howard Smith, 21 November 2021. Email Interview.
Spoken, in-person interview
Spoken interviews include in-person interviews, online interviews, and telephone interviews, which all follow similar guidelines.
Example of an in-person interview works cited example:
Johnson, Crystal. Personal Interview. 20 May 2021.
Example of an online interview works cited example:
Johnson, Crystal. Facebook Video Interview. 20 May 2021.
Example of a telephone interview works cited example:
Johnson, Crystal. Telephone Interview. 20 May 2021.
Interview missing an author
If the source is missing an author, skip this information and write the title in quotation marks with a period. Follow this information with the name of the journal or periodical in italics and a period. List the date of the publication followed by a comma and the page span of the material.
Works cited entry example:
“The Daily Life of Crystal.” The Hypothetical Interviewers’ Column, May 2020, pp. 19-20.
Interview without a title
When an interview is missing a title, rename it with a brief description of the interview.
Works cited entry example:
Johnson, Crystal. “Crystal Discusses her Routine.” Interview by Elizabeth Miller. The Hypothetical Interviewers’ Column, May 2020, pp. 19-20.
Interview without a date
If an interview found online is missing a date, skip this information and continue writing the URL and access date.
Works cited entry example:
Johnson, Crystal. “The Daily Life of Crystal.” Interview by Elizabeth Miller. The Hypothetical Interviewers’ Column, http://hypothetical_interviewers_com_CJohnson. Accessed 2 May 2020.
Interview without pages
If a reference is missing pages, simply do not list them. Instead, follow the date with a period.
Works cited entry example:
Johnson, Crystal. “The Daily Life of Crystal.” Interview by Elizabeth Miller. The Hypothetical Interviewers’ Column, May 2020.