Art Raney is the James E. Kirk Professor of Communication in the School of Communication. His research primarily examines how and why we enjoy various media entertainment content, with specific attention to the role morality plays in those processes. His writings on these issues have been published in various anthologies, as well as Journal of Communication, Media Psychology, Communication Theory, and Mass Communication and Society. His edited books include Media and Social Life (with Mary Beth Oliver; Routledge, 2014) and Handbook of Sports and Media (with Jennings Bryant; Routledge, 2006). Raney also served as the principal investigator on a three-year grant project (2015-2018) funded by the John Templeton Foundation. Raney and his team examined how self-transcendent emotions—awe, elevation, and admiration—are elicited by and experienced with inspirational media content, and how those experiences might promote character building, an “others-praising” perspective, prosocial behavior, and increased exposure to and sharing of the content. An overview of the project can be found here.

• BA 1990; University of Alabama, Communication
• MA 1994; Southwestern Seminary, Theology
• PhD 1998; University of Alabama, Mass Communication

Media Psychology, Entertainment Theory, Media and Morality, Media Effects, Entertainment Media Audiences, Inspirational Media

Mass Media, Media and Society, Media Theory and Effects