JOURNALISM & PRESS

Journalism Interview Consent Form

Q: Do journalists need interview consent forms?

While not always legally required, using a journalism interview consent form is considered best practice by the Society of Professional Journalists. It documents on-record versus off-record agreements, protects against attribution disputes, and demonstrates ethical professional standards.

Q: Do student journalists need consent forms?

Yes. Student journalists should use consent forms for formal interviews, particularly when working on published student newspapers, broadcast segments, or journalism course projects. The Student Press Law Center (SPLC) provides resources for minor interview consent in student press contexts.

Q: What does background vs off the record mean?

Background means the journalist can use the information but not attribute it to the named source directly. Off the record means the information cannot be published at all and is used only for the journalist's own context.

A free journalism interview consent form for reporters, journalists, and student press. Covers on-record, off-record, recording, and publication consent. Download PDF or Word instantly.

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Interviewee Full Name Article / Story Topic Journalist / Reporter Name Publication / Media Outlet Interview Date Will the interview be recorded? Attribution preference Journalist Contact Email

PREVIEW

INTERVIEWEE NAME

Enter interviewee name above

ARTICLE / STORY TOPIC

Enter story topic above

JOURNALIST / PUBLICATION

Enter journalist and outlet above

INTERVIEW DATE

Select date above

CONSENT TO INTERVIEW: I, [ interviewee ], agree to be interviewed by [ journalist ] of [ publication ] regarding [ topic ].

RECORDING: This interview will be audio and/or video recorded.

VOLUNTARY: I may decline any question and withdraw consent at any time prior to publication.

INTERVIEWEE SIGNATURE: ___________________________ Date: __________

JOURNALIST SIGNATURE: ___________________________ Date: __________

What Is a Journalism Interview Consent Form and Who Needs One?

A journalism interview consent form is a written agreement between a journalist and an interviewee that documents exactly how the information shared will be used — whether on the record, on background, or off the record. Unlike a general interview consent form, a journalism-specific form also covers publication rights, attribution preferences, recording consent, and the interviewee's right to review quotes before publication.

The Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) Code of Ethics emphasises minimising harm to sources and being transparent about a journalist's identity and purpose — both of which a signed consent form directly supports. When conducting recorded interviews for print, broadcast, or online publication, a signed consent form also protects reporters against later disputes over what was said on or off the record.

Broadcast reporters and documentary filmmakers need a media interview consent form that covers broadcast rights. Podcasters conducting journalistic interviews should use a podcast interview consent form that includes syndication and clip-reuse rights. If the interview is captured on video, a separate video interview consent form may also be required.

Student journalists are not exempt. The Student Press Law Center (SPLC) provides guidance on consent and minor interview permissions. Our student interview consent form is designed for this context. For a quick one-page option, a simple interview consent form may be sufficient. For researchers conducting journalistic-style interviews, see our research interview consent form. Browse interview consent form samples and examples for real-world formats.

What to Include in a Journalism Interview Consent Form

Publication name, media outlet, and journalist nameClearly identify who is conducting the interview and for which publication or broadcast outlet.
Topic of the interviewState the article topic, story angle, or broadcast segment the interview will appear in.
Attribution choice — on-record, background, or off-recordDocument the interviewee's agreed attribution level before they speak. See our guide on writing interview consent forms for more detail.
Recording consent — audio and/or videoSpecify whether the interview will be audio recorded, video recorded, or notes only. Recording consent is legally required in two-party consent states.
Publication and broadcast rightsFor print, online, and social media editions. If the interview may be syndicated or broadcast, use a media interview consent form which covers broader distribution rights.
Right of interviewee to go off the recordConfirm the interviewee's right to stop or redirect the interview, or designate portions as off the record after the fact.
Whether the interviewee can review quotes before publicationSome publications offer quote review; others do not. Documenting this avoids post-publication disputes.
Contact information for the journalist and editorA contact name, email, and phone so the interviewee can reach the journalist before publication.
Signature lines for interviewee and journalistBoth parties should sign and date the form. For online or email interviews, a digital signature or email confirmation is acceptable.

Professional Resources for Journalism Consent

SPJ Code of Ethics — Society of Professional Journalists — industry standard for sourcing, attribution, and minimising harm to interview subjects.
Student Press Law Center (SPLC) — resources for student journalists including minor interview consent guidance and First Amendment rights.
Reporters Committee — State-by-State Recording Law Guide — which US states require one-party vs two-party consent for recording conversations.

Journalism Interview Consent Form — Sample Text

Copy this sample or browse more interview consent form examples. Download the editable version in PDF or Word below.

JOURNALISM INTERVIEW CONSENT FORM

Publication / Media Outlet: [Publication Name]
Journalist: [Reporter Name]
Editor / Supervisor: [Editor Name]
Contact: [email] | [phone]
Interview Topic: [Topic]
Date: [Date]

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CONSENT TO INTERVIEW

I, [Participant Name], agree to be interviewed by [Journalist Name] on behalf
of [Publication] regarding [topic] on the following terms:

ATTRIBUTION — please initial your choice:
___  I consent to be quoted by my full name
___  I consent to be quoted as [agreed description]
___  I wish to speak on background (not directly quoted by name)
___  I wish to speak off the record (not quoted or attributed)

RECORDING — please initial your choice:
___  I consent to audio recording
___  I consent to video recording
___  Notes only (no recording)

PUBLICATION RIGHTS
I understand this interview may be published in [publication name],
including print, online, and social media editions, and may be archived.

QUOTE REVIEW:
___  I request the opportunity to review relevant quotes before publication
___  I do not request review

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Participant Signature: ______________________________ Date: ____________
Journalist Signature:  ______________________________ Date: ____________

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do journalists need interview consent forms?

While not always legally required, using a journalism interview consent form is considered best practice by the Society of Professional Journalists. It documents what was agreed on-record versus off-record, protects against attribution disputes, and demonstrates ethical professional standards. In some jurisdictions, especially when recording audio or video, written consent may be legally required.

What is an on-the-record interview consent form?

An on-the-record consent form documents that an interviewee agreed to be quoted by name in a published article or broadcast. It differs from background or off-the-record agreements, which restrict how the information can be used. A standard interview consent form can be adapted for this purpose, or use our dedicated journalism form which includes an attribution checkbox section.

Can I use a consent form for oral history interviews?

Yes. An oral history interview consent form documents permission to record, archive, and use historical testimony in publications and archives. It should specify whether recordings can be deposited in an archive or made publicly accessible. Our interview consent form samples include an oral history example. Check our IRB interview consent form for university-specific oral history requirements.

What does "background" vs "off the record" mean?

Background means the journalist can use the information but not attribute it directly to the named source — for example, "according to a senior official." Off the record means the information should not be published at all. These distinctions must be agreed before the interviewee speaks and documented in the consent form before the interview begins.

Do student journalists need consent forms?

Yes. Student journalists should use consent forms for published articles, broadcast segments, and course projects. The Student Press Law Center (SPLC) provides resources for minor interview consent in student press contexts. See our dedicated student interview consent form for a student-ready template.