Multimedia Citation Guide: APA, IEEE & More

Citing multimedia sources correctly is crucial for academic integrity. Here's what you need to know:

• Multimedia citations include videos, podcasts, social media posts, and more
• Different citation styles have specific rules for multimedia sources
• Key elements: creator's name, title, publication date, URL, platform name, media type

Quick comparison of major citation styles for multimedia:

Style	Used in	In-text Citation	Reference List Format
APA	Social sciences	(Author, Year)	Author. (Year). Title [Media Type]. Site. URL
IEEE	Engineering, tech	[1]	[1] Author, "Title", Site, Year. [Online]. Available: URL
MLA	Humanities	(Author)	Author. "Title." Site, Date, URL.
Chicago	History, arts	Footnote	Author. "Title." Site, Date. URL.

Common mistakes to avoid:

• Missing key elements in citations
• Incorrect formatting
• Improper handling of user-generated content

Remember: Always check your specific style guide for the most up-to-date rules on citing multimedia sources.

Related video from YouTube

Basics of multimedia citations

Citing multimedia is tricky. Why? Because digital sources are diverse and always changing. Let's break it down.

Common multimedia sources

You'll often need to cite these types of content:

Source Type	Examples
Videos	YouTube, TED Talks, educational videos
Audio	Podcasts, music, radio broadcasts
Social Media	Tweets, Facebook posts, Instagram photos
Interactive Media	Video games, VR experiences
Visual Content	Infographics, data viz, artwork

Why multimedia citations are tough

Three main reasons:

1. Online content can vanish or change.
2. Creator info or dates might be missing.
3. Each type needs a different citation structure.

Key rules for citing multimedia

No matter the style, follow these basics:

1. Name the creator (person or org).

2. Say what it is (video, podcast, etc.).

3. Give access info (URLs and retrieval dates).

4. Use timestamps for audio/video: (Pegion et al., 2019, 14:35).

Here's how it looks in APA for a YouTube video:

Sethi, R. (2015, June 23). How to Write a Winning Resume, With Ramit Sethi [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0fjkKCsM1w

Remember: Citing right helps your readers find and verify your sources. It's not just about avoiding plagiarism—it's about building trust.

APA style for multimedia

APA has specific rules for citing multimedia. Here's what you need to know:

Citation structure

The basic format includes:

Author, A. A. [Username]. (Year, Month Day). Title [Medium]. Site Name. URL

Video citations

For YouTube:

Channel Name. (Year, Month Day). Video title [Video]. YouTube. URL

Example:

Harvard University. [Harvard]. (2007, December 10). An introduction to the dataverse network as an infrastructure to data sharing [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgn6dmfsZ_M

For films:

Director, D. D. (Director). (Year). Title [Film]. Production Company.

Example:

Wallace, R. (Director). (2010). Secretariat [Film]. Walt Disney Pictures.

Social media citations

Instagram:

Author [@username]. (Year, Month Day). Caption [Type of post]. Instagram. URL

Example:

Lady Gaga [@ladygaga]. (2019, July 16). To the launch of #HAUSLABORATORIES. Cheers to a wonderful day 1 🥂 [Photograph]. Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/p/Bz9q87wlxGl/

Twitter:

Author [@username]. (Year, Month Day). Tweet text [Tweet]. Twitter. URL

Remember:

• Use screen names in brackets if different from real names
• List up to 20 authors
• For 20+ authors, list first 19, add ..., then final author
• Only cite public posts

For video timestamps:

(Harvard University, 2007, 2:30)

This points to 2:30 in the video.

IEEE style for multimedia

IEEE citation style is key for tech fields. Here's how to cite multimedia sources:

IEEE citation basics

Use numbers in square brackets for in-text citations:

The video [1] shows electrical current flowing through wood.

In your reference list:

[1] Electricity - An Electric Current Flows through Wood in Real-Time Phenomena. (Jun 8, 2021). Accessed: Jan. 25, 2022. [Online Video]. Available: https://youtu.be/knACZPQx54s

Citing videos in IEEE

For online videos:

Video Owner/Creator. Title of Video. (Release date). Accessed: Date. [Online Video]. Available: URL

Example:

NexGenT. What Is a Vlan? (December 17, 2017). Accessed: March 17, 2019. [Online Video]. Available: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJjNsCVHc34

For streaming videos:

Title of Video. (Year). Accessed: Date. [Streaming Video]. Available: URL

Example:

Electrical Power Transmission: The Grid. (2015). Accessed: Feb. 1, 2022. [Streaming Video]. Available: https://vu.kanopystreaming.com

Citing social media in IEEE

No clear rules exist, but try this format:

J. K. Author [@username], Full Tweet or "Title of post", Title of Website, Abbrev. Month Day, Year. Available: URL (accessed: Abbrev. Month Day, Year).

Example:

M. H. K. Choi [@choitotheworld], Can someone fix bacon packaging this has gone on long enough, Twitter, Apr 16, 2020. Available: https://twitter.com/choitotheworld/status/1250444150215827458 (accessed: Aug 5, 2020).

Tips for social media citations:

• Use original content only
• Keep original spelling and capitalization
• Include hashtags, links, and emojis
• Cite the original source, not a repost

MLA style for multimedia

MLA has rules for citing multimedia. Here's the lowdown:

Basic MLA multimedia citation

Include:

• Creator's name
• Work title (in quotes)
• Website name (italics)
• Publisher (if different)
• Publication date
• URL (no "https://")

For videos or podcasts, use timestamps instead of page numbers.

Citing videos

Online videos:

"Video Title." Website, uploaded by Username, Day Month Year, URL.

Example:

"First Look Inside Notre-Dame after Fire." YouTube, uploaded by BBC News, 16 Apr. 2019, www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Zpw_KAEhDY.

In-text: ("First Look Inside" 00:01:15-00:01:30)

Streaming services:

Title of Movie. Directed by Director's Name, Production Company, Year. Streaming Service.

Example:

Coraline. Directed by Henry Selick, Laika, 2009. Netflix.

In-text: (Coraline 00:45:30-00:46:15)

Social media citations

General format:

Account Name [@username]. "Post text." Platform, Day Month Year, URL.

X (Twitter) example:

Hubble [@NASAHubble]. "#MayThe4thBeWithYou! Hubble captured this view of a celestial 'lightsaber' that's called HH 24..." X, 4 May 2021, x.com/NASAHubble/status/1389581790868905991.

In-text: (Hubble)

Instagram:

Account Name [@username]. Description of post. Instagram, Day Month Year, URL.

Example:

Kaur, Rupi [@rupikaur_]. Video of Rupi Kaur poem reading. Instagram, 30 Apr. 2021, www.instagram.com/p/COTCyVaADQe/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link.

In-text: (Kaur)

Platform	Citation Format
YouTube	"Video Title." YouTube, uploaded by Username, Day Month Year, URL.
X (Twitter)	Account Name [@username]. "Text of post." X, Day Month Year, URL.
Instagram	Account Name [@username]. Description of post. Instagram, Day Month Year, URL.
TikTok	Account Name [@username]. "Text of TikTok." TikTok, Day Month Year, URL.
Facebook	Account Name [@username]. "Text of post or Title of Video." Facebook, Day Month Year, URL.

Chicago style for multimedia

Chicago style has specific rules for citing multimedia sources. Let's look at how to reference videos, films, and social media content.

Chicago style basics

Chicago uses two systems: notes and bibliography (humanities) and author-date (sciences). For multimedia, notes and bibliography is more common.

You'll use footnotes or endnotes, with a bibliography at the end. Citations can be full or short notes:

• Full note: Complete source info
• Short note: Author's last name, source title, page number(s)

Citing videos and films

For videos or films, include:

• Director's name
• Title (italicized)
• Format
• Production company
• Release year

For online videos, add the platform, upload date, and URL.

Film example (full note):

1. John Patrick Shanley, Joe Versus the Volcano, directed by John Patrick Shanley (1990; Burbank, CA: Warner Home Video, 2002), DVD.

Bibliography entry:

Shanley, John Patrick, dir. Joe Versus the Volcano. 1990; Burbank, CA: Warner Home Video, 2002. DVD.

YouTube video example:

1. "Browser the Library Cat in the Library", YouTube video, 02:49, posted by "chari326", October 30, 2007, https://youtu.be/_0mI7HKD6CQ.

Citing social media and online content

Include the author's name, post content, platform, date, and URL.

Twitter:

1. American U Library (@AULibrary), "2015 winners of Library Research Awards. Don't miss your chance to win $1k this year! #tbt http://bit.ly/1XKYPBf", Twitter, March 3, 2016, 12:31 p.m., https://twitter.com/AULibrary/status/705490693574135808.

Facebook:

1. American University Library, "One week left to apply for your chance to win $1,000!" Facebook, March 11, 2016, https://www.facebook.com/AULibrary/posts/10153431856787157.

Instagram:

1. American University Library (@aulibrary), "Our view of the busy quad today!" Instagram, March 24, 2016, https://www.instagram.com/p/BDWURHtoCbG/.

Include the time for social media posts, as shown in the Twitter example.

Platform	Citation Format
YouTube	"Video Title", YouTube video, length, posted by "Username", Month Day, Year, URL.
Twitter	Username (@handle), "Full text of tweet", Twitter, Month Day, Year, Time, URL.
Facebook	Page Name, "Text of post", Facebook, Month Day, Year, URL.
Instagram	Username (@handle), "Text of post", Instagram, Month Day, Year, URL.

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Comparing citation styles

Citation styles can be confusing. Let's break down the main differences:

APA uses author-date, IEEE uses numbers, MLA uses author-page, and Chicago offers two options: notes-bibliography or author-date.

Here's a quick comparison:

Style	In-text	List Order	Title Format	Date Format
APA	(Smith, 2022)	A-Z	Italics	(2022, January 15)
IEEE	[1]	Numerical	Quotes	Jan. 15, 2022
MLA	(Smith 37)	A-Z	Italics	15 Jan. 2022
Chicago	(Smith 2022, 27)	A-Z	Italics	January 15, 2022

Which style should you use? It depends on your field:

• APA: Social sciences
• IEEE: Engineering and tech
• MLA: Humanities
• Chicago: History and arts (but works for many fields)

For multimedia, APA handles online content well, IEEE works for technical stuff, MLA is consistent across formats, and Chicago is flexible for various sources.

Remember: Always check your specific requirements. Your professor or publisher might have preferences.

Tips for good multimedia citations

Citing multimedia sources can be tricky. Here's how to do it right:

Collecting citation information

When citing multimedia, grab these details:

• Creator's name
• Title
• Publication date
• URL or DOI
• Platform name
• Media type

For YouTube, look below the video. For other platforms, check "About" or "Info" sections.

Pro tip: Copy-paste URLs and titles to avoid mistakes.

Dealing with missing information

No author? Use the title instead. No date? Use "n.d." No title? Describe the content in brackets.

Example:

[Untitled photograph of woman in laboratory]. (n.d.). Photograph. Louisiana Digital Library. http://www.louisianadigitallibrary.com/cdm/ref/collection/p16313coll28/id/232

Helpful citation tools

1. Zotero

Free, open-source tool that detects research as you browse. Works with Word, Google Docs, and LibreOffice.

2. RefSeek

Academic search engine that generates citations in MLA, APA, and Chicago styles.

3. Citation Machine

Freemium website for creating citations in various formats. Free version has ads.

Common mistakes and solutions

Missing key elements

Most papers mess up in-text citations. A 2013 study found 84% had issues. Here's how to avoid that:

• Match in-text citations with your reference list
• Include author, date, title, and source
• Use "n.d." for no date
• No author? Use a short title

Formatting errors

Sloppy formatting looks unprofessional. Watch out for:

• Wrong punctuation
• Misused italics
• Bad capitalization

To fix these:

• Stick to your style guide
• Use sentence case for APA titles
• Use hanging indents in references

Pro tip: Try Zotero or RefSeek to format automatically.

Citing user content

Social media citations are tricky. Here's how to do it right:

1. Include the full post

Copy everything, errors and all. Use "sic" for mistakes.

Nguyen, Viet Thanh [@viet_t_nguyen]. "I could put on my headphones at the Chinese restaurant or I could listen to @barrymanilow sing 'Mandy.' I choose Mandy." Twitter, 19 Feb. 2019.

2. Handle image-only posts

Describe what you see briefly.

Kasper Nymann [@polarpx]. Photograph of Silkie chicken in grass. Twitter, 5 May 2020, 11:10 a.m., https://twitter.com/polarpx/status/1257734510730412034.

3. Use usernames when needed

No real name? The username will do.

Future of multimedia citation

Multimedia formats and AI are shaking up how we cite sources. Here's what's coming:

New multimedia formats

VR and AR content are pushing citation styles to adapt. Citing a VR experience might soon need:

• Platform (Oculus, HTC Vive)
• VR software version
• Specific scene or interaction

No official rules yet, but experts say stick to "who, what, when, where" for new formats.

AI in citation

AI's changing the citation game:

1. Automated citation generation

AI tools are getting scary good at making citations. Zotero's AI can now create citations from plain text with 95% accuracy.

2. Smart reference management

AI-powered software might soon:

• Spot citation errors
• Suggest relevant sources
• Update citations when source info changes

3. AI-generated content citation

Citing AI-generated text is becoming a thing. Here's how major style guides handle it:

Style Guide	AI Citation Format
APA	AI as "author", company as "publisher"
MLA	Include prompt and AI model details
Chicago	No official rules yet
IEEE	Follows Chicago Manual of Style

An APA citation for ChatGPT looks like this:

OpenAI. (2023). ChatGPT (Mar 14 version) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com/chat

As AI tools evolve, expect citation rules to keep changing.

Conclusion

Citing multimedia properly is crucial for academic work. Here's why:

• It backs up your claims
• It gives credit to creators
• It lets readers check your sources

Different citation styles have their own rules:

Style	Format
APA	Author-date, includes media type
IEEE	Numbered, focuses on publication details
MLA	Author-page, emphasizes creator's name
Chicago	Notes-bibliography or author-date

The media world is changing fast. New formats like VR and AI content are challenging citation styles to keep up.

To improve your multimedia citation skills:

1. Get the basics down
2. Keep up with style guide updates
3. Use citation tools (but double-check them)
4. Practice often
5. Ask for help when needed

Remember: Good citation takes work, but it's worth it for solid, credible research.

FAQs

How do you cite a multimedia source?

Citing multimedia sources isn't rocket science. You just need to include:

• Creator's name
• Publication date
• Title of the work
• Medium type (like DVD or podcast)
• Publisher or platform name
• URL (if it's online)

The exact format? That depends on your citation style. Here's a quick comparison:

Element	APA	MLA
Author	Last name, First initial.	Last name, First name.
Date	(Year, Month Day)	Day Month Year
Title	Italicized	"Quoted"
Medium	[Video]	Video.
Source	Website Name. URL	Website Name, URL

Can I cite a YouTube video in my paper?

Absolutely! Here's how to do it in APA:

Channel Name. (Year, Month Day). Video title [Video]. YouTube. URL

For example:

Vsauce. (2017, August 14). The napkin ring problem [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J51ncHP_BrY

Easy, right? Just remember to check your specific style guide for any quirks or updates.