| Keep reading for a sneak peek of Issue 1 |
Welcome to Semi-Structured, the new open-access journal from the Public Ethnography Lab dedicated to showcasing ethnography as it unfolds in the world. This journal exists because we believe ethnographic work matters beyond the academy—that the insights generated through sustained engagement with communities, organizations, and institutions can and should inform decisions, shape practices, and drive meaningful change.
The title, Semi-Structured, reflects both our methodological orientation and our editorial philosophy. Like the semi-structured interview that balances prepared questions with space for unexpected directions, this journal creates structure while remaining open to the diverse forms ethnographic practice takes in the world. We seek pieces that are rigorous yet accessible, analytical yet compelling—writing that honors the complexity of ethnographic work while remaining legible to broad audiences. (Learn more about the vision for the journal here.)
We are also thrilled to announce that our inaugural issue – which asks What does ethnography in action look like? – is set to be released in early January 2026. This issue will feature six engaging pieces which answer this question from strikingly different contexts—from sweatshops in Argentina to displacement camps in Ethiopia, from migrant mutual aid in Maryland to Indigenous communities in Mexico, from a maritime museum in Connecticut to courtrooms in Costa Rica. Together, they reveal ethnography not as a passive recording of social life but as an active practice of listening, translating, advocating, and collaborating across lines of power, geography, and institutional mandate.
As a sneak peak of this first issue, we've released for early access two of these important pieces, alongside a longer welcome letter from our Editor-in-Chief, Dr. Thurka Sangaramoorthy. The featured pieces include:
If you'd like to be notified when the full issue is published, sign up for our mailing list here.
We have so many exciting plans for this journal and the Public Ethnography Lab more broadly, including launching Season 2 of our podcast In the Thick of It (listen to Season 1 here!), continuing our public lecture series in partnership with D.C. Public Library, hosting in-person methodological training, and supporting the 2026 Public Anthropology Conference. We hope that you follow along, support, and join us in the months and years ahead!
Wishing everyone a safe and restful end of the year!
Thurka Sangaramoorthy, Editor-in-Chief and Lab Director
Elise Ferrer, Lab Coordinator
Public Ethnography Lab
Department of Anthropology
American University
