MLA Interview Citation: Your Guide To Perfect Formatting

Hey guys! Ever find yourselves knee-deep in research, with a fantastic interview under your belt, and then… bam… citation anxiety hits? Don't worry, we've all been there! Citing an interview in MLA format doesn't have to be a headache. Whether it's a chat with a renowned expert or a personal conversation, getting it right is crucial for academic integrity. This guide breaks down everything you need to know about citing interviews in MLA, making sure your research shines. We'll cover the two main types of interviews—published and unpublished—and give you the lowdown on formatting, so you can cite with confidence. Let’s dive into the world of MLA interview citations and make sure your hard work gets the credit it deserves. Keep reading to master the art of citing interviews and impress your professors with your impeccable research skills! This guide is designed to transform you from citation-challenged to a citation champion. Let's get started!

Understanding the Two Types of Interviews

Alright, let’s get the basics down first. When it comes to citing interviews in MLA, there are two primary categories you need to know about: published and unpublished. These two types have different formatting requirements, so understanding the distinction is key. Published interviews are those that have already appeared in a print publication, a website, a broadcast, or another publicly accessible format. Think of interviews you might read in a magazine, see on a TV show, or find online. These already have a set format and context, which influences how you cite them. On the other hand, unpublished interviews are those you conducted yourself or that exist as personal communications. This includes interviews you've done for research purposes, or even personal conversations you're incorporating into your work. Because they're not publicly available, the citation style differs to reflect that. The critical difference here is accessibility: are others able to easily find the interview? If yes, it's published. If no, it's unpublished. Recognizing this difference is your first step towards accurate MLA citations. So, whether you're working with a famous interview or a one-on-one chat, knowing these distinctions will keep you on the right track.

Published Interviews: Citing Interviews from Public Sources

Okay, let's tackle those published interviews. These are generally easier to cite because the source material is already available in a structured format. Here's how to cite a published interview in MLA format, depending on where you found it.

Interview from a Book:

When citing an interview from a book, you need to focus on who was interviewed, the interviewer (if available), the title of the interview (if there is one), the book title, the author or editor of the book, publication information, and the page range. Here's the basic format:

Last Name, First Name of Interviewee. Interview by First Name Last Name of Interviewer (if given). “Title of Interview (if any).” Title of Book, edited by First Name Last Name of Editor (if applicable), Publisher, Year, page range.

• Example:
  • Sorkin, Aaron. Interview by Frank Rich. “The New Yorker Interview.” The New Yorker Interviews, edited by Peter Canby and Christopher Busa, Random House, 2002, pp. 180-195.

Interview from a Journal or Magazine:

Citing interviews from journals or magazines is very similar. You’ll need the interviewee’s name, the interviewer's name, the title of the interview, the journal or magazine title, the publication date, and the page range. The format looks like this:

Last Name, First Name of Interviewee. Interview by First Name Last Name of Interviewer. “Title of Interview.” *Title of Journal/Magazine*, Date, page range.

• Example:
  • Gates, Bill. Interview by Charlie Rose. “Bill Gates on Innovation.” Time, 12 June 2000, pp. 60-64.

Interview from a Website:

For online interviews, the format is slightly adjusted to include a URL and the date of access. Here's what it looks like:

Last Name, First Name of Interviewee. Interview by First Name Last Name of Interviewer. “Title of Interview.” *Title of Website*, Date of Publication, URL. Accessed Date of Access.

• Example:
  • Musk, Elon. Interview by Lex Fridman. “Elon Musk on Tesla, SpaceX, and the Future.” Lex Fridman Podcast, 20 Jan. 2020, lexfridman.com/elon-musk-podcast. Accessed 15 July 2024.

Important Tip: Always double-check the source for specific formatting. Some publications might have their own style guides, but the above examples are a good starting point.

Unpublished Interviews: Citing Personal Conversations

Now, let's move on to those unpublished interviews – the ones you conducted yourself or obtained through personal communication. These citations are different because they are not publicly accessible. The goal is to give credit while recognizing the private nature of the source. Here’s how you format it.

Personal Interviews Conducted by You:

When you personally conduct the interview, the citation is straightforward, focusing on the interviewee's name, the fact that it was a personal interview, and the date. Here’s the format:

Last Name, First Name of Interviewee. Personal interview. Date of interview.

• Example:
  • Smith, John. Personal interview. 10 June 2024.

Interviews from Personal Correspondence (Email, Letters, etc.):

If you’re citing an interview that took place via email or a letter, the citation includes the interviewee’s name, the nature of the communication (email, letter), the recipient (if it's not you), and the date.

Last Name, First Name of Interviewee. Email to First Name Last Name of Recipient. Date of email.

• Example:
  • Doe, Jane. Email to Alex Johnson. 12 July 2024.

Interviews Received Through a Third Party:

If you're using an interview someone else conducted, you need to clearly state that it was received via a third party. The format will be similar to the above, but with added details about how you received the information.

Last Name, First Name of Interviewee. Interview by First Name Last Name of Interviewer. Personal communication. Date of interview/communication.

• Example:
  • Williams, Sarah. Interview by Michael Brown. Personal communication. 5 June 2024.

Key Considerations for Unpublished Interviews: When citing unpublished interviews, the main aim is to provide enough information for a reader to understand the source but also to respect the privacy of the interviewee. Keep it clear, concise, and focused on the essential details.

In-Text Citations for Interviews

Alright, now that we've covered the basic format, let's talk about how to properly integrate your interview citations into your paper with in-text citations. In-text citations are crucial for giving credit where it's due and avoiding plagiarism. Here's the deal.

In-Text Citations for Published Interviews

For published interviews, in-text citations generally follow the standard MLA format, which means using the interviewee’s last name and the page number (if available) in parentheses. If you mention the interviewee’s name in your sentence, you only need the page number.

• Example: *