Taeyoung Lee | The University of Texas at Austin (original) (raw)

Papers by Taeyoung Lee

Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly, 2021

This study extends the literature on how transparency influences news credibility perceptions by ... more This study extends the literature on how transparency influences news credibility perceptions by examining trust signals at the news outlet level, rather than at the story level, as earlier research has done. Experiments in the United States ( n = 1,037) and Germany ( n = 1,000) found that exposure to trust signals in a Google search about a known news brand, rather than an unknown brand, and the German cultural context increased news credibility perceptions. Participants were more likely to click on trust signals that gave background about the news brand or offered ways to engage with a news outlet.

Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Communication, 2019

Satire represents a form of public discourse that invites critical judgment of some sociopolitica... more Satire represents a form of public discourse that invites critical judgment of some sociopolitical folly, absurdity, or contradiction. Through devices like exaggeration, irony, and imitation, a satirical text aspires to cut through spin, deception, and misrepresentation in order to spotlight a given state of affairs as they are or could be. That is, satire is propelled by an impulse to elucidate; to highlight some truth. In many respects, journalism’s normative aspirations are similar to that of satire. Journalism’s guiding principles are commonly discussed in light of a central mission to seek and report the best obtainable version of the truth. Though satirical and journalistic endeavors are often carried out with contrasting tones of sobriety, both forms of discourse exhibit idealism in offering unblinking assessments of social realities. Accordingly, it is hardly surprising that satire and journalism have an extensive history of interplay, dating back to some of the earliest ven...

Computers in Human Behavior, 2021

Drawing from the Theory of Reasoned Action (as embedded within the Integrated Behavioral Model) a... more Drawing from the Theory of Reasoned Action (as embedded within the Integrated Behavioral Model) and adopting a cognitive consistency framework, this survey-based research models how satirical news-induced mirth and perceptions of a satire message’s informativeness can serve as mediating mechanisms that elucidate how psychological harmony with a satirical news message can translate into online and offline sharing behavior. This multi-study research (study 1 N = 317; study 2 N = 412) demonstrates that individuals are inclined to share/discuss satirical news when they perceive agreement with the content, experience mirth, and deem the content to have instrumental (informative) value. Study 2 further examines this project’s proposed model relative to sharing with likeminded/non-likeminded others. Largely mirroring the study 1 findings, the model of indirect effects is most clearly supported in study 2 when the sharing recipients are likeminded. By focusing on the fundamental roles of cognitive consistency and satirical news content’s experiential and instrumental value, this research contributes to strengthening an empirical basis for understanding the conditions in which this unique genre of news information holds appeal, offers utility, and is shared.

Computers in Human Behavior, 2022

Drawing from the Theory of Reasoned Action (as embedded within the Integrated Behavioral Model) a... more Drawing from the Theory of Reasoned Action (as embedded within the Integrated Behavioral Model) and adopting a cognitive consistency framework, this survey-based research models how satirical news-induced mirth and perceptions of a satire message’s informativeness can serve as mediating mechanisms that elucidate how psychological harmony with a satirical news message can translate into online and offline sharing behavior. This multi-study research (study 1 N = 317; study 2 N = 412) demonstrates that individuals are inclined to share/discuss satirical news when they perceive agreement with the content, experience mirth, and deem the content to have instrumental (informative) value. Study 2 further examines this project’s proposed model relative to sharing with likeminded/non-likeminded others. Largely mirroring the study 1 findings, the model of indirect effects is most clearly supported in study 2 when the sharing recipients are likeminded. By focusing on the fundamental roles of cognitive consistency and satirical news content’s experiential and instrumental value, this research contributes to strengthening an empirical basis for understanding the conditions in which this unique genre of news information holds appeal, offers utility, and is shared.

Communication Quarterly, 2021

Employing theoretical frameworks regarding people's perception of media effects (e.g. thirdperson... more Employing theoretical frameworks regarding people's perception of media effects (e.g. thirdperson effect), this study examines how people perceive the effects of fake news, what may lead to these perceptions, and how people act on them. Findings from an online survey provide evidence that people perceive fake news to have negative influence on themselves and others, with greater influence on others than themselves. This study revealed that the extended internal political efficacy scale-the conventional internal political efficacy scale with a measure specific to fake news-serves as an antecedent of the perceived influence of fake news on oneself, others, and the self-other perceptual disparity. Further, the perceptions of fake news effects on oneself and others, separately and jointly, were significantly associated with several likely behaviors including support for fake news regulation, social media withdrawal, and information sharing on social media.

Satire and Journalism, 2019

Satire represents a form of public discourse that invites critical judgment of some sociopolitica... more Satire represents a form of public discourse that invites critical judgment of some
sociopolitical folly, absurdity, or contradiction. Through devices like exaggeration, irony,
and imitation, a satirical text aspires to cut through spin, deception, and
misrepresentation in order to spotlight a given state of affairs as they are or could be.
That is, satire is propelled by an impulse to elucidate; to highlight some truth. In many
respects, journalism’s normative aspirations are similar to that of satire. Journalism’s
guiding principles are commonly discussed in light of a central mission to seek and report
the best obtainable version of the truth. Though satirical and journalistic endeavors are
often carried out with contrasting tones of sobriety, both forms of discourse exhibit
idealism in offering unblinking assessments of social realities. Accordingly, it is hardly
surprising that satire and journalism have an extensive history of interplay, dating back to
some of the earliest venues of modern journalism. Given satire’s penchant to freely draw
from the conventions and norms of a wide range of cultural practices in its pursuit of
mounting social critiques, it follows that satire would frequently leverage the tools of
journalism for its purposes. The journalism profession has long laid claim to privileged
legitimacy in the public sphere, positioning itself as a voice of authority in interpreting
public affairs events and issues. Journalism’s traditional (though certainly not
uncontested) position of privilege has proven useful to satirists. Likewise, satire’s
entertaining and attention-getting qualities have long enticed news media actors.
Academic scholarship centered on the interplay of satire and journalism emanates from a variety of research orientations, employs a diversity of methods, and focuses on a wide
range of topics and cultural contexts. The bulk of this body of research highlights satirical
work that draws from journalism-based conventions and practices (for example, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart), but pockets of scholarship also consider conventional
journalism’s engagement with satire. Still other scholars focus more on how the
convergences of journalism and satire spawn hybrid forms of discourse that contribute to public culture in meaningful ways. Building on the insights afforded by these diverse lines of research, future satire–journalism scholarship would be well served by continuing to draw from across these multifaceted research streams.

Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly, 2021

This study extends the literature on how transparency influences news credibility perceptions by ... more This study extends the literature on how transparency influences news credibility perceptions by examining trust signals at the news outlet level, rather than at the story level, as earlier research has done. Experiments in the United States ( n = 1,037) and Germany ( n = 1,000) found that exposure to trust signals in a Google search about a known news brand, rather than an unknown brand, and the German cultural context increased news credibility perceptions. Participants were more likely to click on trust signals that gave background about the news brand or offered ways to engage with a news outlet.

Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Communication, 2019

Satire represents a form of public discourse that invites critical judgment of some sociopolitica... more Satire represents a form of public discourse that invites critical judgment of some sociopolitical folly, absurdity, or contradiction. Through devices like exaggeration, irony, and imitation, a satirical text aspires to cut through spin, deception, and misrepresentation in order to spotlight a given state of affairs as they are or could be. That is, satire is propelled by an impulse to elucidate; to highlight some truth. In many respects, journalism’s normative aspirations are similar to that of satire. Journalism’s guiding principles are commonly discussed in light of a central mission to seek and report the best obtainable version of the truth. Though satirical and journalistic endeavors are often carried out with contrasting tones of sobriety, both forms of discourse exhibit idealism in offering unblinking assessments of social realities. Accordingly, it is hardly surprising that satire and journalism have an extensive history of interplay, dating back to some of the earliest ven...

Computers in Human Behavior, 2021

Drawing from the Theory of Reasoned Action (as embedded within the Integrated Behavioral Model) a... more Drawing from the Theory of Reasoned Action (as embedded within the Integrated Behavioral Model) and adopting a cognitive consistency framework, this survey-based research models how satirical news-induced mirth and perceptions of a satire message’s informativeness can serve as mediating mechanisms that elucidate how psychological harmony with a satirical news message can translate into online and offline sharing behavior. This multi-study research (study 1 N = 317; study 2 N = 412) demonstrates that individuals are inclined to share/discuss satirical news when they perceive agreement with the content, experience mirth, and deem the content to have instrumental (informative) value. Study 2 further examines this project’s proposed model relative to sharing with likeminded/non-likeminded others. Largely mirroring the study 1 findings, the model of indirect effects is most clearly supported in study 2 when the sharing recipients are likeminded. By focusing on the fundamental roles of cognitive consistency and satirical news content’s experiential and instrumental value, this research contributes to strengthening an empirical basis for understanding the conditions in which this unique genre of news information holds appeal, offers utility, and is shared.

Computers in Human Behavior, 2022

Drawing from the Theory of Reasoned Action (as embedded within the Integrated Behavioral Model) a... more Drawing from the Theory of Reasoned Action (as embedded within the Integrated Behavioral Model) and adopting a cognitive consistency framework, this survey-based research models how satirical news-induced mirth and perceptions of a satire message’s informativeness can serve as mediating mechanisms that elucidate how psychological harmony with a satirical news message can translate into online and offline sharing behavior. This multi-study research (study 1 N = 317; study 2 N = 412) demonstrates that individuals are inclined to share/discuss satirical news when they perceive agreement with the content, experience mirth, and deem the content to have instrumental (informative) value. Study 2 further examines this project’s proposed model relative to sharing with likeminded/non-likeminded others. Largely mirroring the study 1 findings, the model of indirect effects is most clearly supported in study 2 when the sharing recipients are likeminded. By focusing on the fundamental roles of cognitive consistency and satirical news content’s experiential and instrumental value, this research contributes to strengthening an empirical basis for understanding the conditions in which this unique genre of news information holds appeal, offers utility, and is shared.

Communication Quarterly, 2021

Employing theoretical frameworks regarding people's perception of media effects (e.g. thirdperson... more Employing theoretical frameworks regarding people's perception of media effects (e.g. thirdperson effect), this study examines how people perceive the effects of fake news, what may lead to these perceptions, and how people act on them. Findings from an online survey provide evidence that people perceive fake news to have negative influence on themselves and others, with greater influence on others than themselves. This study revealed that the extended internal political efficacy scale-the conventional internal political efficacy scale with a measure specific to fake news-serves as an antecedent of the perceived influence of fake news on oneself, others, and the self-other perceptual disparity. Further, the perceptions of fake news effects on oneself and others, separately and jointly, were significantly associated with several likely behaviors including support for fake news regulation, social media withdrawal, and information sharing on social media.

Satire and Journalism, 2019

Satire represents a form of public discourse that invites critical judgment of some sociopolitica... more Satire represents a form of public discourse that invites critical judgment of some
sociopolitical folly, absurdity, or contradiction. Through devices like exaggeration, irony,
and imitation, a satirical text aspires to cut through spin, deception, and
misrepresentation in order to spotlight a given state of affairs as they are or could be.
That is, satire is propelled by an impulse to elucidate; to highlight some truth. In many
respects, journalism’s normative aspirations are similar to that of satire. Journalism’s
guiding principles are commonly discussed in light of a central mission to seek and report
the best obtainable version of the truth. Though satirical and journalistic endeavors are
often carried out with contrasting tones of sobriety, both forms of discourse exhibit
idealism in offering unblinking assessments of social realities. Accordingly, it is hardly
surprising that satire and journalism have an extensive history of interplay, dating back to
some of the earliest venues of modern journalism. Given satire’s penchant to freely draw
from the conventions and norms of a wide range of cultural practices in its pursuit of
mounting social critiques, it follows that satire would frequently leverage the tools of
journalism for its purposes. The journalism profession has long laid claim to privileged
legitimacy in the public sphere, positioning itself as a voice of authority in interpreting
public affairs events and issues. Journalism’s traditional (though certainly not
uncontested) position of privilege has proven useful to satirists. Likewise, satire’s
entertaining and attention-getting qualities have long enticed news media actors.
Academic scholarship centered on the interplay of satire and journalism emanates from a variety of research orientations, employs a diversity of methods, and focuses on a wide
range of topics and cultural contexts. The bulk of this body of research highlights satirical
work that draws from journalism-based conventions and practices (for example, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart), but pockets of scholarship also consider conventional
journalism’s engagement with satire. Still other scholars focus more on how the
convergences of journalism and satire spawn hybrid forms of discourse that contribute to public culture in meaningful ways. Building on the insights afforded by these diverse lines of research, future satire–journalism scholarship would be well served by continuing to draw from across these multifaceted research streams.