Biography

Jason Peifer, Ph.D. (The Ohio State University), is an assistant professor of journalism in the Media School at Indiana University. With professional experience in public radio, Peifer teaches on topics related to public opinion, media ethics, political humor/entertainment, the foundations of journalism, and news literacy. His research explores facets of citizens’ uncertainty about and trust in public institutions—especially as related to journalism practices, non-traditional news sources, and perceptions of the news media’s importance. His work also considers the consequences of such uncertainties. Some of Peifer’s most recent work includes examining the driving forces and consequences of hostility toward journalism and the efficacy of different forms of journalistic transparency. His scholarship has been published in a variety of outlets, including the Journal of Communication, Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly, Media Psychology, Journalism Studies, Communication Methods & Measures, and the International Journal of Communication. Peifer is affiliated with IU’s Center for International Media Law and Policy Studies and in 2019 was awarded an Emerging Scholars grant by the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC).

Selected Publications

• Peifer, J.T. & Meisinger, J. (2021). The value of explaining the process: How journalistic transparency and perceptions of news media importance can (sometimes) foster message credibility and engagement intentions. Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly. doi:10.1177/10776990211012953
• Peifer, J.T. (2020). Warring with the press: The influence of elite hostility, emotions, and perceptions of news media importance on support for journalism. Journalism Studies, 21, 1852-1872. doi:10.1080/1461670X.2020.1797525
• Peifer, J.T.  & Landreville, K.D. (2020). Spoofing presidential hopefuls: The roles of affective disposition and positive emotions in prompting the social transmission of debate parody. International Journal of Communication, 12, 200-220.
• Peifer, J.T.  & Myrick, J. (2019). Risky satire?: Examining how a traditional news outlet’s use of satirical news can affect media perceptions and engagement with a news source. Journalism. doi:10.1177/1464884919833259
• Peifer, J.T. (2018). Perceived News Media Importance: Developing and validating a measure for personal valuations of normative journalistic functions. Communication Methods & Measures. doi:10.1080/19312458.2017.1416342
• Peifer, J.T. (2018). Liking the (funny) messenger: The influence of news parody exposure, mirth, and predispositions on media trust. Media Psychology. doi: 10.1080/15213269.2017.1421470
• Peifer, J.T. (2018). Imitation as flattery: How TV news parody’s media criticism can influence perceived news media importance and media trust. Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly, 95, 734-756. doi:10.1177/1077699017713002
• Peifer, J.T., & Holbert, R.L. (2016). Appreciation of pro-attitudinal versus counter-attitudinal political humor: A cognitive consistency approach to the study of political entertainment. Communication Quarterly, 64, 16-35. doi: 10.1080/01463373.2015.1078828
• Carlson, M., & Peifer, J.T. (2013). The impudence of being earnest: Jon Stewart, the journalistic community, and boundary traversal. Journal of Communication, 63, 333-350. doi: 10.1111/jcom.12019
• Peifer, J.T.  (2012). Can we be funny?: The social responsibility of political humor. Journal of Mass Media Ethics, 27, 263-276.  doi: 10.1080/08900523.2012.746110