Draft:Joshua Dairen
 | Review waiting, please be patient.
This may take 2–3 weeks or more, since drafts are reviewed in no specific order. There are 871 pending submissions waiting for review.
Where to get help
How to improve a draft
You can also browse Wikipedia:Featured articles and Wikipedia:Good articles to find examples of Wikipedia's best writing on topics similar to your proposed article. Improving your odds of a speedy review To improve your odds of a faster review, tag your draft with relevant WikiProject tags using the button below. This will let reviewers know a new draft has been submitted in their area of interest. For instance, if you wrote about a female astronomer, you would want to add the Biography, Astronomy, and Women scientists tags. Editor resources
Reviewer tools
|
 | This article is an autobiography or has been extensively edited by the subject or by someone connected to the subject. (July 2025) |
| Submission declined on 4 June 2025 by CF-501 Falcon (talk). This submission is not adequately supported by reliable sources. Reliable sources are required so that information can be verified. If you need help with referencing, please see Referencing for beginners and Citing sources. This submission's references do not show that the subject qualifies for a Wikipedia article—that is, they do not show significant coverage (not just passing mentions) about the subject in published, reliable, secondary sources that are independent of the subject (see the guidelines on the notability of people). Before any resubmission, additional references meeting these criteria should be added (see technical help and learn about mistakes to avoid when addressing this issue). If no additional references exist, the subject is not suitable for Wikipedia.
Where to get help
How to improve a draft
You can also browse Wikipedia:Featured articles and Wikipedia:Good articles to find examples of Wikipedia's best writing on topics similar to your proposed article. Improving your odds of a speedy review To improve your odds of a faster review, tag your draft with relevant WikiProject tags using the button below. This will let reviewers know a new draft has been submitted in their area of interest. For instance, if you wrote about a female astronomer, you would want to add the Biography, Astronomy, and Women scientists tags. Editor resources
This draft has been resubmitted and is currently awaiting re-review. |  |
| Submission declined on 25 May 2025 by BuySomeApples (talk). This submission's references do not show that the subject qualifies for a Wikipedia article—that is, they do not show significant coverage (not just passing mentions) about the subject in published, reliable, secondary sources that are independent of the subject (see the guidelines on the notability of people). Before any resubmission, additional references meeting these criteria should be added (see technical help and learn about mistakes to avoid when addressing this issue). If no additional references exist, the subject is not suitable for Wikipedia. This submission is not adequately supported by reliable sources. Reliable sources are required so that information can be verified. If you need help with referencing, please see Referencing for beginners and Citing sources. Declined by BuySomeApples 2 months ago. | |
Comment: You technically have only three references. TikTok is not a reliable source. A few more sources are needed to meet the criteria. CF-501 Falcon (talk · contribs) 00:43, 4 June 2025 (UTC)
Requesting review: This article is supported by multiple independent secondary sources including Fortune, WBHM/NPR, Travel Noire, AL.com, and Den of Geek. All claims are cited to reliable outlets, and the subject meets the notability criteria under WP:BIO. The tone follows WP:NPOV and WP:BLP, and the formatting adheres to current AfC standards. The article retains the four sources from the previously declined draft and is significantly strengthened by 15+ additional third-party profiles, national coverage, and ongoing media work.
Joshua Dairen | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 28, 1993 Opelika, Alabama, U.S. |
| Education | University of Alabama at Birmingham (BA) |
| Occupation(s) | Folklorist, paranormal researcher, writer, speaker |
Joshua Dairen (born May 28, 1993) is an American folklorist, paranormal researcher, and journalist known for his work on Southern Black urban legends, haunted history, and the cultural preservation of overlooked stories in the American South. Based in Alabama, Dairen gained recognition through viral TikTok videos and national media features for investigating hauntings and folklore tied to historical injustice. He has been featured in Fortune, Travel Noire, WBHM/NPR, Fox News, and the Associated Press, among others.
Career
[edit]Dairen began creating content centered on Alabama folklore and Southern ghost stories in 2022, gaining viral traction on TikTok and Instagram. His videos often explore lesser-known Black history and local hauntings, combining oral tradition with investigative journalism. He is known for blending historical research, cultural commentary, and storytelling in both digital and traditional formats.
He has investigated and shared narratives about locations such as Fort Morgan, the Redmont Hotel, and various allegedly haunted libraries, jails, and cemeteries across the South. Dairen is also a frequent guest on paranormal radio shows and podcasts, including Darkness Radio. His storytelling style emphasizes respect for the communities represented, and his videos have sparked renewed tourism and historical interest in several rural Southern towns.
Journalism
[edit]As a journalist and writer, Dairen is a contributor to Den of Geek, where he has authored longform cultural commentary on pop culture and representation in media. His essays on shows like Wayward Pines and films under James Gunn's direction have received notable online engagement and discussion.[1][2]
He has also written for AL.com, including essays on historical figures like Horace King[3] and the cultural importance of the Gee's Bend quilting tradition.[4] His commentary focuses on intersections between history, justice, memory, and myth.
Media coverage and recognition
[edit]Dairen has been profiled in Travel Noire,[5] featured in Fortune,[6] and covered by WBHM/NPR for his efforts to spotlight Southern stories through social media.[7]
His work has also been featured by Fox News,[8] ABC 33/40,[9] WTVM,[10] WSFA,[11][12] and the International Business Times.[13]
Dairen is also an active speaker, featured on radio programs and podcasts including Darkness Radio.[14]
Education
[edit]Dairen earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB).[15][16]
References
[edit]- ^ "Wayward Pines Season 1 Is an All-Time Great Sci-Fi TV Show". Den of Geek. Retrieved July 27, 2025.
- ^ "Superman: Mr. Terrific and the James Gunn Blueprint for Active Representation". Den of Geek. Retrieved July 27, 2025.
- ^ "The Enduring Legacy of Horace King". AL.com. November 13, 2023. Retrieved July 27, 2025.
- ^ "From slavery to national fame: The Gee's Bend quilts that changed modern art". AL.com. December 6, 2023. Retrieved July 27, 2025.
- ^ "Joshua Dairen: The Black Paranormal Investigator Uncovering Southern Haunts". Travel Noire. Retrieved July 27, 2025.
- ^ "TikTok creators say the platform changed their lives. A potential ban has them worried". Fortune. Retrieved July 27, 2025.
- ^ "How TikTok and the South's urban legends opened new doors for Alabama's Joshua Dairen". WBHM. May 31, 2023. Retrieved July 27, 2025.
- ^ "Man says coffee shop haunted by Civil War soldier". Fox News. October 26, 2024. Retrieved July 27, 2025.
- ^ "Talk of Alabama: Alabama Urban Legends". ABC 33/40. August 31, 2022. Retrieved July 27, 2025.
- ^ "Paranormal creator talks alleged haunted house in Opelika". WTVM. October 31, 2023. Retrieved July 27, 2025.
- ^ "Morning Smile: Opelika's coffee shop awarded $1k grants". WSFA. February 18, 2025. Retrieved July 27, 2025.
- ^ "Opelika man combines coffee with passion for the paranormal". WSFA. June 22, 2024. Retrieved July 27, 2025.
- ^ "TikTok Video About Haunted Alabama Library Goes Viral, Management To Bring Back Ghost Tours". IBTimes. November 2022. Retrieved July 27, 2025.
- ^ "A Haunting of Historic Proportions w/ Juwan Mass and Joshua Dairen". Darkness Radio. Retrieved July 27, 2025.
- ^ "Joshua Dairen Alumni Spotlight". UAB Alumni Association. Retrieved July 27, 2025.
- ^ "UAB Young Alumni Council Listing". UAB Alumni Association. Retrieved July 27, 2025.