Russell Frank

Russell Frank is an Associate Professor at the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications at Pennsylvania State University. He has been affiliated with the university since 1998, teaching courses in news writing, feature writing, news media ethics, and the literature of journalism. His expertise spans journalism ethics, literary journalism, and internet folklore.

Frank holds a Bachelor's in Creative Writing and Literature from SUNY Binghamton, a Master's in Folklore and Mythology from UCLA, and a Ph.D. in Folklore and Folklife from the University of Pennsylvania. He has contributed to prominent publications like the New York Times and Los Angeles Times and authored books including Among the Woo People (2017) and Newslore (2011).

His research has been published in journals such as Western Folklore, Journal of American Folklore, and New Media and Society. He has been recognized as a Fulbright Scholar twice (Ukraine in 2012 and Greece in 2019–2020) and is a member of esteemed organizations like the American Folklore Society and the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication.

Frank’s award-winning column for StateCollege.com explores life in a college town, blending journalistic and folkloric perspectives. His work frequently addresses ethical challenges in media, disinformation, and the intersection of folklore with digital culture.