Interview


You may need to consult more than one section of Re:cite to accurately represent the source used. Your citation may look different depending on the number of authors it has. Check the About Chicago A page for further advice.


Personal communications may include (but is not limited to) email, fax, interview, conversations, direct or private messages via social media, telephone conversations and letters.

Format for footnotes

Elements, punctuation & capitalisation

Footnote number. Name of interviewee, interviewed by interviewer's name, place, date of interview.

Footnote example

First entry:

Unpublished interview:

22. Kate Kelly, interviewed by Julianne Summer, Melbourne, September 22, 2017.

Unattributed or anonymous interview:

23. Interview with social worker, July 23, 2018.

Published interview online:

24. Joy Buolamwini, “ ‘If You Have a Face, You Have a Place in the Conversation About AI,’ Expert Says,” interview by Tonya Mosley, Fresh Air, NPR, November 28, 2023, audio, 37:58, https://www.npr.org/2023/11/28/1215529902/unmasking-ai-facial-recognition-technology-joy-buolamwini.

Second and subsequent entries:

26. Kelly, interview.

27. Interview with social worker.

28. Buolamwini, interview.


Format for bibliography

Unpublished interviews are not usually referred to in the bibliography, however can be included if they are critical to your argument or are cited frequently. Check with your lecturer if you are unsure.

Elements, punctuation & capitalisation

Unpublished interview

Name of interviewee (Surname, First Name). Interview by interviewer's name. Place, date of interview.

Interview published online

Name of interviewee (Surname, First Name). "Interview Title." Interview by Interviewer Name. Program Title, Production Company (if relevant), Month Day, Year. Format, duration (MM:SS).

Bibliography entry example

Unpublished interview:

Kelly, Kate. Interviewed by Julianne Summer. Melbourne, September 22, 2017.

Interview published online

Buolamwini, Joy. “ ‘If You Have a Face, You Have a Place in the Conversation About AI,’ Expert Says.” Interview by Tonya Mosley. Fresh Air, NPR, November 28, 2023. Audio, 37:58. https://www.npr.org/2023/11/28/1215529902/unmasking-ai-facial-recognition-technology-joy-buolamwini.


Tips for this reference type

  • See Manual 14.108,  14,110, and 14.109.
  • Interviews published in text are can usually be treated like an article or other item in a periodical. Note, however, that interviews are usually cited under the name of the interviewee rather than the interviewer (14.110).
  • You may include other identifying information (i.e. position or organisation) if relevant.
  • An interview with a person who prefers to remain anonymous or whose name the author does not wish to reveal is called an Unattributed interview (see 14.109 ).
  • Email addresses should not be published unless necessary for the argument and express permission is granted by the owner.
  • It is recommended you obtain the permission of the person who is communicating the information.
  • You may include additional contextual information about the interview in your footnote.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)