Press Room
The American Folklore Society invites all inquiries from members of the media interested in the compelling and timely news and research emerging from the folklore community.
Folklorists study the traditional art, stories, knowledge, and practices of a people. We are active in all areas of our society, studying expressive culture in education, healthcare, poverty, and immigration. And folklorists are experts in a wide range of topics, including issues recently covered in the news such as fake news, cryptozoology, legends, holidays, internet memes, traditional and world music, the supernatural, and COVID-19.
Folklorists’ Insight on Hot News Topics
History: How Ghost Stories Became a Christmas Tradition in Victorian England
The Guardian: Why People Believe Covid Conspiracy Theories: Could Folklore Hold the Answer?
Smithsonian Magazine: A Q&A with the Smithsonian’s First Curator from the Lumbee Tribe
House Committee on Appropriations: The Effects of COVID-19 on Arts and Humanities Organizations
Atlanta Journal Constitution: Women potters of North Georgia step out of the long shadow cast by men
Slate: How the Stories We Tell About COVID Can Help—or Hinder—Vaccination Efforts
The Nation: Who Gets to Tell the Story of a Lost Music Culture?
Texas Public Radio: Hispanic? Chicano? Latinx? What’s In A Name?
Western Kentucky University Public Radio: What’s Fake News Got to Do With Folklore? WKU Professor Explores Connections in New Article
The Meiji at 150 Podcast: Episode 71 – Dr. Michael Dylan Foster (UC Davis) discusses yōkai, the supernatural spirits and monsters of Japan
Seven Days: Folklorist Stephen Wehmeyer Lectures on the Lives of Spirit Artists
Contact Us
The AFS Find an Expert database will connect you directly to experts according to subject area, geographic area, or subfield. If you need additional help finding a source for a story, email us with your query.
For general questions about folklore, you may also contact:
- Tom Mould, Chair Media and Public Outreach Committee: tmould@butler.edu, (317) 940-8231
- Deb Shutika, Member Media and Public Outreach Committee: dshutika@gmu.edu, (703) 216-9010
Resources for the Press
What is Folklore? The Answer at a Glance
About the American Folklore Society
Press Registration for the Annual Meeting: contact annualmeeting@afsnet.org
(812) 856-2422
Folklorists in the News
- Folklorist Rachel Hopkin Wins Award from Oklahoma Society of Professional Journalists
Folklorist Rachel Hopkin wins the first place award in the Radio Outstanding Feature category of the Oklahoma Society of Professional Journalists Pro Chapter’s 2025 Awards for her podcast episode. - AFS Fellow Neil Rosenberg Awarded the 2025 IBMA Liner Notes of the Year
AFS congratulates Neil Rosenberg—a Fellow and longtime member of the Society—on winning the 2025 International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Liner Notes of the Year. - AFS Fellow Jack Zipes Publishes Novella for Young Adults
The latest novella by literary scholar and author Jack Zipes reflects his belief that the world’s conditions have deteriorated for many, particularly the young. It is a hopeful tale of resistance and defiance, intended for his grandchildren and anyone who believes in standing up against oppression. - Anna Lomax Wood Interviewed for Her Work on Italian American Musical Culture
An interview of folklorist Anna Lomax Wood about her experiences researching the musical traditions of Italian immigrants, among other topics, is featured on Italian American Collective. - Pravina Shukla Receives Award for Exemplary Teaching and Service from Indiana University
AFS congratulates Dr. Pravina Shukla on receiving the 2025 College of Arts and Sciences James P. Holland and Morley Distinguished Teaching Award from Indiana University.