Is there a difference between citing published and unpublished interviews?

Yes. Published interviews include publication information, while unpublished interviews use personal communication format.

Can I cite an interview I conducted myself?

Personal interviews are cited as personal communication and included in-text only, not in the reference list.

How do I cite an interview from a podcast or video?

Cite it similarly to a published interview, including the medium and where it can be accessed.

How to Cite an Interview in APA Format

Understanding Interview Citations in APA Format

Interviews are valuable primary sources that provide direct insights and expert perspectives. In APA format, interview citations vary based on whether the interview is published or conducted by you as part of your research.

Published interviews that appear in publications are cited like other sources. Personal interviews that you conduct are treated differently and appear only in the text of your paper as personal communication citations.

Format for Published Interviews

Interviewer, A. A. (Year, Month Date). Interview with B. B. Interviewee. Publication Name, page range. https://doi.org/xxxxx

Example:

Smith, J. K. (2023, March 15). Interview with climate scientist Dr. Lisa Chen. *National Geographic*, 45-48.

Format for Unpublished/Personal Interviews

For interviews you conducted yourself, use in-text citations only:

(L. Chen, personal communication, March 15, 2023)

Do not include personal communications in the reference list.

Key Citation Elements

Interviewer (for published interviews)

The person conducting the interview is typically listed as the author.

Interview Date

Use the publication date for published interviews, or the date the interview occurred for personal communication.

Interviewee Name

Include the name of the person being interviewed in the interview description.

Publication Information

For published interviews, include the publication name in italics, followed by page numbers or URL.

Medium

Specify if the interview appeared in print, online, or other media.

Detailed Examples

Published Print Interview

Johnson, T. R. (2023, February 20). Interview with author Margaret Smith on modern literature. *The New Yorker*, 72-75.

Online Published Interview

Martinez, R. C. (2023, March 10). Conversation with entrepreneur David Kim on startup culture. *Forbes*. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/interviews

Interview in Documentary or Broadcast

Williams, K. A. (Director). (2023). Interview with Dr. James Wilson. In *Climate change: Global perspectives* [Film/Documentary]. Environmental Media Group.

Podcast Interview

Garcia, M. S. (Host). (2023, March 5). Episode 42: Interview with economist Dr. Robert Johnson [Audio podcast episode]. In *Economic insights*. https://www.podcast.com/economic-insights

In-Text Citations for Published Interviews

Use standard author-date format:

(Smith, 2023)

For direct quotes:

(Smith, 2023, p. 46)

In-Text Citations for Personal Interviews

Personal interviews appear only in the text, not in the reference list:

According to Dr. Lisa Chen (personal communication, March 15, 2023), climate change impacts will accelerate without intervention.

Or use parenthetical citation:

(L. Chen, personal communication, March 15, 2023)

Special Cases in Interview Citations

Group Interview or Panel Discussion

Anderson, B. J. (Host). (2023, March 12). Panel discussion: The future of artificial intelligence. *Technology Today*, 33-37.

Interview Published in Multiple Formats

Thompson, K. A. (2023, March 8). Interview with social scientist Dr. Maria Garcia. *Academic Quarterly*, 102-109. Also available at https://www.academicquarterly.org/interviews

Personal Interview Recording

For personal interviews you’re keeping as research materials, you can include location information:

(J. Smith, personal communication, March 15, 2023, recorded interview)

Using GenText for Interview Citation Management

Managing interview citations requires tracking both published and personal communications. GenText helps you:

Format published interviews in correct APA style
Track personal interview dates and participants
Organize interview transcripts and recordings
Manage consent forms and ethics documentation
Generate consistent reference lists
Distinguish between published and personal communications
Create citation reminders for interviews conducted

Common Mistakes with Interview Citations

Including personal communications in reference list: Personal interviews only appear in-text.
Forgetting the interview date: Always include the specific date.
Omitting interviewee name: Clearly identify who was interviewed.
Inconsistent formatting for published interviews: Treat them like other published sources.
Using incomplete publication information: Include all relevant details for published interviews.

Checklist for Interview Citations

Interviewer or publication name is correct
Interview date is complete and accurate
Interviewee name is clearly identified
Publication information is provided (for published interviews)
URL or DOI is included (for online interviews)
Personal interviews appear only in-text
Personal interviews are not in the reference list
In-text citation follows author-date format

Tips for Conducting and Citing Interviews

When conducting your own interviews:

Get participant consent before the interview
Record the date, time, and location
Ask permission before recording or transcribing
Keep detailed notes of the conversation
Maintain confidentiality if requested
Plan to reference the communication in your text

Interviews add authenticity and expert perspective to academic work. Proper citation acknowledges the interviewee’s contribution.