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If you're writing a research paper, interviews with experts in the field can be a great source of information. However, in Harvard referencing style, they are cited differently than other audio-visual materials. With an interview, the name of the person interviewed is placed where you would normally place the name of the author. The rest of the elements of your Reference List entry depend on the medium or format of the interview. [1]

Method 1 of 2:
Crafting Your Reference List Entry

  1. 1
    Start with the name of the person interviewed and the year. For an interview, the name of the person interviewed goes in the spot where the author of the work would normally go. Type the person's last name, followed by a comma, then their first initial. If their middle initial is also provided, include it immediately after the first name with no intervening punctuation. Place a period after the final initial, then add the year the person was interviewed in parentheses.[2]
    • Example: Potter, H. (2018)
  2. 2
    Include the title of the interview if applicable. Some interviews, particularly those in newspapers or magazines, have a distinct title. If the interview you're referencing has a title, type it after the year. Use sentence case, capitalizing only the first word and any proper nouns in the title. Place a period at the end.[3]
    • Example: Potter, H. (2018) Something wicked this way comes.

    Tip: Many of the elements included in the general interview reference template won't be available for every source. Only include the information that's available or applicable to your source and leave the rest out. There's no need to indicate in any way that certain elements were unavailable.

  3. 3
    List the name of the interviewer and the publication or broadcast. Type "Interviewed by" followed by the name of the interviewer. Type their first name out in full, followed by their last name. Place a period after their last name, then add the name of the publication or broadcast program where the interview appeared in italics.[4]
    • Example: Potter, H. (2018) Something wicked this way comes. Interview by Barnabus Cuffe. The Daily Prophet.
  4. 4
    Provide the medium or format and production or publication information. In square brackets, identify the format of the interview (online, television broadcast, radio broadcast, podcast, newspaper, magazine). Capitalize the format. If the interview was broadcast on a particular channel, include the name or call-sign for the channel followed by a comma. Add the specific date and time of the transmission if applicable.[5]
    • Broadcast Example: Potter, H. (2018) Something wicked this way comes. Interviewed by Barnabus Cuffe, WWBC News. [Television Broadcast] WWBC, 7 July.
    • Print Example: Potter, H. (2018) Something wicked this way comes. Interview by Barnabus Cuffe. The Daily Prophet. [Newspaper] 5 July, pp. 12-14.
  5. 5
    Add the URL and access date if the interview is available online. If you watched the interview online, type "Available at:" followed by the full URL for the interview. Type a space after the end of the URL then open square brackets. Type the word "Accessed" followed by the last date you accessed the interview video in day-month-year format. Place a period outside the closing square brackets.[6]
    • Example: Potter, H. (2018) Something wicked this way comes. Interviewed by Barnabus Cuffe, WWBC News. [Television Broadcast] WWBC, 7 July. Available at: https://www.wizardingworldbroadcastco.com/interviews/potter_wicked [Accessed 13 July 2019].

    Harvard General Interview Template

    IntervieweeLastName, I. (Year) Title of the interview (if any) in sentence case. Interviewed by InterviewerFirstName InterviewerLastName, Title of Publication/Show. [Medium/Format] Name of Channel (if applicable), Day-Month of Transmission (if applicable), Publication Details (print). Available at: URL [Accessed Day-Month-Year].

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Method 2 of 2:
Using In-Text Citations

  1. 1
    List the name of the person interviewed and the year in a parenthetical. Since your Reference List entry starts with the name of the person interviewed, this is the last name that goes in your in-text citation. Type a space and add the year of the interview with no intervening punctuation.[7]
    • For example, you might write: "It seems clear from the interview that something evil is brewing in the wizarding world (Potter 2018)."
  2. 2
    Place the year in parentheses after the interviewee's name in the main text. In some situations, it might make more sense to include the name of the person interviewed in the main text of your paper. If you do this, there's no need to repeat it in a parenthetical at the end of the sentence. Simply place the year of the interview in parentheses after the name and continue with the sentence.[8]
    • For example, you might write: "Potter (2018) said he believed it was just a matter of time before the Dark Lord returned."
  3. 3
    Add a page number if you discuss a specific part of a print interview. If you include information in your paper that relates to a single statement made in the interview, rather than the interview as a whole, point your reader to where they can find that material in the interview. For a print interview, type a comma after the year in your parenthetical, then add the page number after the abbreviation "p."[9]
    • For example, you might write: "Despite the widespread belief that the Dark Lord had been vanquished once and for all, Potter (2018, p. 12) was certain he would find a way to return."
  4. 4
    Include a timestamp in the main text if you're referring to a specific moment. If you watched or listened to a video or audio presentation of the interview rather than reading it in print, a timestamp points your readers to the exact moment when something happened. With Harvard referencing style, include that information in the main text of your paper rather than in a parenthetical citation.[10]
    • For example, you might write: "At the 2m33s mark, Potter (2018) is visibly shaken as he's asked about his encounter with the Dark Lord."
  5. 5
    Provide your citation in the main text if you conducted the interview. Any interview you conduct yourself is considered personal communication. You typically don't need a Reference List entry because there's no way for your reader to access the original source. Instead, include the date of the interview and name of the person interviewed directly in the text of your paper.[11]
    • For example, you might write: "During an interview conducted on 29 February 2020, Potter confirmed that he still believes the Dark Lord has followers in the wizarding world."
    • You can also include this information in a parenthetical citation at the end of the sentence. List the first initial and last name of the interviewee and the year of the interview followed by a comma, then type "personal communication," also followed by a comma. Close the in-text citation with the day and month of the interview. For example, you might write: "The young wizard confirmed his fears in an interview (H Potter 2020, personal communication, 29 February).

    Warning: Get consent from the person you interviewed before you include their statements in your research paper, especially if you intend to quote them directly.

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