MLA Citation Guide (MLA 9th Edition): Interviews And Emails

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Personal Communication

The category "Personal Communications" is used in situations where you are taking information from a source such as a conversation, phone call, an email thread or interview you conducted. Personal communications are not published anywhere so someone else can not find and read the full interview or email on their own.

You may find interviews with people in journals, magazines, newspapers, websites, etc. In these cases, cite them according to where you found the information. Do not use the "Personal Communications" category. For example, an interview in a magazine would be cited as a magazine article. That way anyone reading your assignment could easily track down the interview for themselves by finding the same magazine article.

Interview: Email

Format

Last Name of Person Who Was Interviewed, First Name. "Subject Line of Email." Received by Name of Person Who Received Email. Day Month Year of Email. Email Interview.

Example

Smith, Paula. "Re: Food and Family." Received by Joseph Tan. 20 May 2016. Email Interview.

Interview: In Person or Telephone

Format

Last Name of Person Who Was Interviewed, First Name. Description of Interview. Day Month Year of interview. Type of Interview.

Examples

Myers, Elizabeth. The Dangers of Violence in the Media. 12 Mar. 2016. Personal Interview.

Ball, William. Best Practices for the Care of Hospital Patients. 30 Jan. 2016. Telephone Interview.

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