How do I cite an interview, email, or phone call in APA Style?
Answer
In APA Style, interviews, emails, phone calls, text messages, and other private communications are usually cited as personal communications.
Personal communications are cited in the text only and are not included in the reference list because readers cannot access or retrieve them. APA lists emails, text messages, personal interviews, and telephone conversations as examples of personal communications.
Format
Parenthetical citation:
(Initial. Lastname, personal communication, Month Day, Year)
Narrative citation:
Initial. Lastname (personal communication, Month Day, Year)
Examples
Parenthetical citation:
(P. Jones, personal communication, March 1, 2020)
Narrative citation:
According to P. Jones (personal communication, March 1, 2020), 1997 was "a cold year for the Ohio Valley."
Do not include personal communications in your reference list.
Note: If the interview, email, letter, or other communication is publicly available, such as in an archive, transcript, article, video, or published collection, cite it according to the source type instead of as a personal communication.