Anthropology in the News

In recent years anthropology has received greater media attention in Britain, as new TV series (BBC and commercial) have gained popularity with the general public. While these series are often, at least in part, entertainment-driven, their producers regularly consult anthropologists on their work, or have anthropologists working as researchers on the production. In addition, the application of anthropological research to issues such as environmental sustainability, human rights and responsible tourism, has broadened the discipline’s public profile.

The RAI’s journal Anthropology Today regularly features anthropology in the news, and publishes articles linking anthropological research to broader public debates.

The following section lists some articles recently published in British and North American newspapers (such as The Guardian, The Times and the Globe and Mail) that mention anthropology or anthropologists’ work. To facilitate use of these articles, they are categorised by subject matter or specialist area within the discipline.

Newspaper articles are a very valuable teaching and learning resource.  They provide not only useful information, but also insight into how people outside the discipline view and communicate about anthropology, and more broadly, the multiple factors involved in determining which anthropological topics come to be covered in the public media.

New articles are continually being added to this page. If you come across a newspaper article you would like to see added here, please email Nafisa Fera at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  

Academia

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2006/feb/07/highereducationprofile.academicexperts  - an interview with anthropologist Professor Caroline Humphrey (Cambridge University) about her life and research (published in 2006).

Biological Anthropology

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/5364630.stm - an article about the discovery of a skeleton from a species thought to be a precursor to the first true humans (published in 2006).

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4674866.stm - an article about the infertility of Oetzi, the prehistoric man frozen in a glacier for 5300 years (published in 2006).

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4759535.stm - an article about a new genus of monkey found in Tanzania (published in 2006).

Careers

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/career_and_jobs/graduate_management/article712399.ece - an article about career options for anthropology graduates (published in 2006).

Ceremonies and Rituals

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6217502.stm - an article about the importance of the Saisiyat people’s legend and ritual ceremony (published in 2006).

Conservation

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/jun/03/yosemite-conservation-indigenous-people – an article about the mutual respect between conservationists and indigenous people in the Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains (published in 2009).

Ethnomusicology (Anthropology and Music)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009/jan/24/popandrock-worldmusic/print - an article about a student of anthropology who became a music producer (published in 2009).

Fieldwork and Research

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/3645594.stm - an article about an anthropologist’s  research in Madagascar and his experiences writing for the President (published in 2004).

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2006/feb/14/academicexperts.highereducation - an article about anthropologist Professor Jean Ensminger and her work with Kenyan nomads (published in 2006).

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2009/sep/21/john-campbell-obituary – an article about anthropologist Professor John Campbell who carried out fieldwork in Greece from the mid-50s (published in 2009).

Race and Ethnicity

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2007/apr/20/science.media - an article about the planning of the Planet Earth film series (published in 2007).

Visual Anthropology

http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2006/mar/14/television - an article about the anthropologist and filmmaker Kim Longinotto (published in 2006).

Disclaimer: The RAI accepts no responsibility for material written by external parties or the content of external websites. The above articles are listed for information only; inclusion implies no endorsement or otherwise on the RAI’s part.