You are here: Home > Faculty & Staff

Nancy A Jennings

Associate Professor, and Director of the Children's Education and Entertainment Research (CHEER) Lab
Communication - Tenure-Track Faculty
120CA McMicken Hall
513-556-4456
nancy.jennings@uc.edu
http://www.artsci.uc.edu/collegedepts/communication/cheer/default.aspx

Professional Summary

Dr. Jennings studies the impact of media on the lives of children and their families and public policies and practices involved with children’s media. Her research focuses on children's cognitive and social development and their use of media through experimental study and evaluation of television content and media literacy promotion programs. Dr. Jennings has also published on topics of virtual environments, children’s advertising, families and media, and media violence. She has served on local and national taskforces for screen-time reduction, provides parent education programs on children’s media use, and has published in peer-reviewed journals including the Journal of Family Communication, and the Journal of Children and Media.

Education

PhD, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 2000 (Radio-Television-Film).

MBA, DePaul University, Chicago, IL, 1996 (Marketing).

BS, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 1992 (Media Studies).

Research Support

(PI) Jennings, N., Faculty Development Research Council Individual Grant, University of Cincinnati. $2,103. Date: 06-2011 to 06-2012. Status: Completed.

(PI) Jennings, N., Jacquez, F., Wilson, B., Breit-Smith, A., & Downing, K., Watch, move & learn: Making screen time active, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. $150,000. Date: 01/01/2012 to 12/31/2012. Status: Denied.

(PI) Jennings, N., Jacquez, F., & Gilman, R., Watch, move & learn: Making screen time active, University of Cincinnati, CDOC. $50,000. Date: 01/15/2011 to 06/30/2011. Status: Denied.

(PI) Jennings, N., Caplovitz, A., Jacquez, F., & Murnan, J., Watch, move & learn: Making screen time active, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. $150,000. Date: 2010 to 2011. Status: Denied.

(PI) Jennings, N. A., Murnan, J., Jacquez, F. M., Doing It! Healthy Habits for Kids: A School-Based Intervention to Improve Children’s Physical Activity and Eating Habits , University of Cincinnati - University Research Council. $25,000. Date: 06-2009 to 12-2010. Status: Active.

(Principal Investigator) Jennings, N., Ready to Learn Children and Media, subcontract from the University of Pennsylvania (via Corporation for Public Broadcasting/US Department of Education, Institute for Education Sciences). $240,000. Date: 09-2007 to 09-2010. Status: Completed.

(Principal Investigator) Jennings, N., Characters and Learning Outcomes, subcontract from the University of Pennsylvania via Corporation for Public Broadcasting/US Department of Education, Institute for Education Sciences. $50,000. Date: 01-2007 to 03-2008. Status: Completed.

(Principal Investigator) Jennings, N., Children’s television programs, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program. $900. Date: 09-2003 to 05-2004. Status: Completed.

(Principal Investigator) Jennings, N., Children’s television advertising, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program. $900. Date: 09-2003 to 05-2004. Status: Completed.

(Co-Principal Investigator) Jennings, N., Mental illness stigma, television and children, Hogg Foundation. $36,500. Date: 09-2002 to 06-2004. Status: Completed.

(PI) Jennings, Nancy, Mediated Minds: An undergraduate research conference, National Communication Association. $5,000. Date: 01/01/2012 to 09/30/2012. Status: Denied.

(Co-PI) Jennings, N.A. & Jennings, W.P., Ohio American Trustees: Inspiring a Nation Through Civic Literacy, Seasongood Good Government Foundation. $20,000. Date: 05-2012 to 05-2013. Status: Active.

Peer Reviewed Publications

Haas, S., Irr, M., Jennings, N., and Wagner, L. (2011). "Communicating Thin: Stigma and the Co-Construction of Online Enabling Support Groups in the Pro-Anorexia Movement." New Media & Society, 13(1), 40-57.

Stout, Patricia A, Villegas, Jorge, & Jennings, Nancy A (2004). Images of mental illness in the media: identifying gaps in the research. Schizophrenia bulletin, 30(3), 543-61.

Seo, K. K., Curran, A., Jennings, N., & Collins, C. (2010). Creating a new mobile learning community with podcasting. International Journal of Continuing Engineering Education and Life-Long Learning, 20(1), 103-114.

Jennings, N. A., Hooker, S. D., and Linebarger, D. L. "Educational Television as Mediated Literacy Environments for Preschoolers." Learning, Media and Technology 34 (2009): 229, 242.

Seo, K. K., Curran, A., Jennings, N., and Collins, C. "Creating a new mobile learning community with podcasting." International Journal of Continuing Engineering Education and Life-Long Learning 20 (2010): 103, 114.

Jennings, N., and Collins, C. "Virtual or virtually U: Educational institutions in Second Life." International Journal of Social Sciences 2 (2008): 180-186.

Stout, P. A., Staiger, J., and Jennings, N. A. "Affective Stories: Understanding the Lack of Progress of Women Faculty." NWSA Journal 19 (2007): 124-144.

Pike, J., and Jennings, N. "The effects of commercials on children's perceptions of gender appropriate toy use." Sex Roles (2005): 83-91.

Stout, P. A., Villegas, J., and Jennings, N. "Images of mental illness in the media: Identifying gaps in the research." Schizophrenia Bulletin 30 (2004): 543-561.

Wartella, E., and Jennings. N. "The role of computers in children's lives." The Future of children: Children and computer technology 10 (2001): 31-43.

Wartella, E., and Jennings, N. "New members of the family: The digital revolution in the home." Journal of family communication 1 (2001): 59-69.

Jennings, N. A., and Walker, B. "Experiential Mediation: Making meaningful differences with the "Other Parent."" Journal of Family Communication 9 (2009): 3-22.

Piotrowski, J. T., Jennings, N. A., & Linebarger, D. L. (2012). Extending the Lessons of Educational Television with Young American Children. Journal of Children and Media, iFirst. [Link]

Jennings, N. A. (2013). And Now a Click from Our Sponsors: Changes in Children’s Advertising in the United States. In A. N. Valdivia (Gen. Ed.) & S. R. Mazzarella (Ed.), The international encyclopedia of media studies. Vol. 3: Content and representation (pp. 54-73). Oxford, UK: Blackwell.

Book Chapters

Jennings, N. "Kid stuff: 20 questions about youth and the media." Advertising and consumer development: In the driver's seat or being taken for a ride?. Ed. S. R. Mazzarella. New York: Peter Lang, 2007. 103-116.

Jennings, N. A., and Wartella, E.A. "Children and television: 50 Years of research." Advertising and consumer development. Ed. N. Pecora, J. P. Murray, and E. A. Wartella. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 2007. 149-182.

Jennings, N. and Wartella, E. "The handbook of family communication." Technology and the family. Ed. A. Vangelisti. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 2004. 593-608.

Jennings, N. "Children – Consumption, advertising, and media." Advertising, branding, and consuming – The ABC's of marketing in American schools. Ed. F. Hansen, J. Rasmussen, A. Martensen, & L.B. Christensen. Denmark: Samfundslitteratur, 2002. 283-298.

Collins, C., and Jennings, N. "Emerging “Best Practices” for Campus Builds in Second Life." Proceedings of the Second Life Education Workshop 2007: Part of the Second Life Community Convention 2007. Ed. D. Livingston and J. Kemp. Available from: http://cis.paisley.ac.uk/livi-ci0/slccedu2007rev2.doc, 2007. 78-81.

Wartella, E., and Jennings, N. "Handbook of children and the media." Hazards and possibilities of commercial TV in the schools. Ed. D.G. Singer & J.L. Singer. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 2001. 557-570.

Wartella, E., Olivarez, A., and Jennings, N. "Children and media violence." Children and television violence in the United States. Ed. U. Carlsson & C. von Feilitzen. Kungälv, Sweden: Livréna Grafiska AB, 1998. 55-62.

Whitney, C., Wartella, E., Lasorsa, D., Danielson, W., Olivarez, A., Jennings, N., and Lopez, R. "National television violence study, Volume 3." Television violence in "reality" (non-fictional) programming: University of Texas at Austin Study. Ed. Center for Communication and Social Policy. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 1998. 221-284.

Wartella, E., Whitney, C., Lasorsa, D., Danielson, W., Olivarez, A., Lopez, R., Jennings, N. and Klijn, M. "National television violence study, Volume 2." Television violence in "reality" programming: University of Texas at Austin Study. Ed. Center for Communication and Social Policy. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 1998. 205-266.

Jennings, N., & Wartella, E. (2012). Hazards and possibilities of commercial media in the schools. In D.G. Singer & J.L. Singer (Eds.), Handbook of children and the media, 2^nd Edition. (pp. 553-66). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

Jennings, N. & Wartella, E. (2013). Technology and the family. In A. Vangelisti (Ed.), The handbook of family communication, 2^ndEdition(pp. 448-462) Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

Encyclopedia Articles

Jennings, N. "Advertising, Viewer age and." Encyclopedia of children, adolescents, and the media. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 2007.

Jennings, N. "Advertising, Deceptive practices in." Encyclopedia of children, adolescents, and the media. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 2007.

Technical Reports

Jennings, N. A., Hunt, K. P., Altenau, M. L., & Linebarger, D. L. (2010). Examining Interactive Educational Television: A Content Analysis of Super WHY! Philadelphia, PA: Annenberg School for Communication, University of Pennsylvania.

Jennings, N. A., Hooker, S. D., & Linebarger, D. L. (2010). Children’s Response to Interactive TV: An Observational Study of Super WHY! Philadelphia, PA: Annenberg School for Communication, University of Pennsylvania.

Moses, A. M., Jennings, N. A., Hooker, S. D., Cordell, B., Sallee, T. J., & Linebarger, D. L. (2010). “With the Power to Read”: The effects of consistent, positive literacy messages in an educational television program. Philadelphia, PA: Annenberg School for Communication, University of Pennsylvania.

Other Publications

Jennings, N., Hooker, S. and Linebarger, D. L. "A final report prepared for Corporation for Public Broadcasting." Observing the "Ins" and "Outs" of Between the Lions: Educational Television and Emergent Literacy in Preschoolers. (2008). Philadelphia, PA: Annenberg School for Communication, University of Pennsylvania.

Jennings, N., Hunt, K., Altenau, M. and Linebarger, D. L. "A final report prepared for Corporation for Public Broadcasting." Electronic Company: Children's Parasocial Relationships and Loneliness. (2008). Philadelphia, PA: Annenberg School for Communication, University of Pennsylvania.

Invited Presentations

Jennings, N. (05-2011). Couch potatoes into jumping beans: New understandings of children, media use, and obesity. . Cincinnati Diabetes and Obesity Center Research Retreat, Cincinnati, OH.

Jennings, N. (11-2005). Tough times: Helping young children process the media messages they see and hear. Mercy Montessori Center, Cincinnati, OH.

Jennings, N. (07-2002). Stigma, Mental Illness, and the Media.. National Institute of Mental Health, Washington, D.C..

Jennings, N. (03-2012). Challenges of research involving online social networks. Center for Clinical and Translational Science and Training (CCTST) Forum, Cincinnati, OH.

Poster Presentations

Lapierre, M. & Jennings, N. (05-2011). Children and Trade Characters: Predicting Recognition and Knowledge of Character's Business Function. International Communication Association, Boston, MA.

Jennings, N. (08-2006). Advertising and promotions in children’s programs in the new millennium. Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, San Francisco, CA.

Jennings, N. (11-1999). Young characters in violent reality television programs, 1994-1997. National Communication Association Conference, Chicago, IL.

Jennings, N. (04-1999). Depictions of children in violent reality programs, 1996-1997. Biennial Meeting of the Society of Research in Child Development, Albuquerque, NM.

Paper Presentations

Jennings, N., & Collins, C.. To speak or not to speak: Use of voice in Second Life.. Presentation in the Human Communication and Technology Division for the National Communication Association Conference, San Diego, CA. 11-2008.

Seo, K, Curran, A., Jennings, N., & Collins, C. . Lesson on Demand!: Mobilizing Classroom Learning with Podcasts. Presentation at the Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT) 2008 Annual Conference, Orlando, FL. 11-2008.

Collins, C., Jennings, N., Duke, C., & Roosa, K.. Second Life Bootcamp. Preconference workshop for the US Distance Learning Association Annual National Conference, St. Louis, MO. 04-2008.

Duke, C., Roosa, K., Collins, C., & Jennings, N.. Second Life Bootcamp. Preconference workshop for the Texas Distance Learning Association Annual National Conference, Galveston Island, TX. 03-2008.

Collins, C., Anderson, E., & Jennings, N. . Second Life Bootcamp. Preconference workshop for the Ohio Digital Commons for Education, Columbus, OH. 03-2008.

Jennings, N.. And Now a Click from our Sponsors: Websites and Marketing for the Child Audience. Mass Communication Division for the National Communication Association Conference, Chicago, IL. 11-2007.

Jennings, N.. Podcasting, distance education, and mass communication: Becoming the topic of study. Instructional Development Division for the National Communication Association Conference, San Antonio, TX. 11-2006.

Pecora, N., Jennings, N., Eakin, M., and MacDonald, S.. What’s the web got to do with it?: The state of children’s television advertising revisited. International Communication Association Conference, New York, NY. 05-2005.

Stout, P., Jennings, N., and Kim, H.. Assessing the Use of Mental Illness References During Prime-Time Television. Health Communication Division for the International Communication Association Conference, New Orleans, LA. 05-2004.

Jennings, J.. Family communication: Theory, developmental issues, and context. Family Communication Division for the National Communication Association Conference, Miami, FL. 11-2003.

Staiger, J., Stout, P., and Jennings, N.. Promotion and senior women faculty: A study of the status of tenured faculty women. International Communication Association Conference, San Diego, CA. 05-2003.

Jarvis, S., Jennings, N., Jennings, W. & Pharr, J.. Candidates and young Americans discuss the youth vote: A closer examination of the cycle of neglect. Political Communication for the National Communication Association Conference, New Orleans, LA. 11-2002.

Jennings, N.. Commercialization in the schools. International Communication Association Conference, Washington, D.C.. 05-2001.

Jennings, N.. Children’s use of technology in multiple settings. Biennial Meeting of the Society of Research in Child Development, Minneapolis, MN. 04-2001.

Jennings, N.. Media literacy and child development. National Media Literacy and Media Citizenship Conference, University of Alabama at Birmingham. 06-1998.

Jennings, N., & Lapierre, M.. Children’s Parasocial Relationships with Trade Characters. National Communication Association, New Orleans, LA. 11-2011.

Jennings, N., Moses, A., & Sallee, T.. Parental Mediation: Implications on Children’s Outcomes. National Communication Association, New Orleans, LA. 11-2011.

Haas, S. M., Irr, M. E., Jennings, N., and Wagner, L. M. . Communicating thin: Stigma and the co-construction of online enabling support groups in the pro-anorexia movement. the Central States Communication Association Conference, Cincinnati, OH. 04-2010.

Jennings, N.. Mario vs Peach: Gender in Young Children's Video Game Play. the Central States Communication Association Conference, Cincinnati, OH. 04-2011.

Jennings, N.. From Sugar-Plums to Bratz Dolls and Cell Phones: Children’s Christmas Wishes and Advertising. National Communication Association Conference, Chicago, IL. 11-2009.

Jennings, N.. Not Your Parents’ 30-Second Commercial: Targeting Kids through Non-traditional Media and with Non-Traditional Products. National Communication Association Conference, Chicago, IL. 11-2009.

Jennings, N., Hooker, S., & Linebarger, D. . Educational Television and Children: Watching children watch Super Why!. Mid-Western Educational Research Association (MWERA), St. Louis, MO. 10-2009.

Symposia

Jennings, N. (03-2005). Media and early childhood: What parents should know. A Parenting Symposium, Grosse Pointe Woods, MI.

Events Organized

Conference. Mediated Minds (04/20/2012), University of Cincinnati.

Other. Bro Code Screening (01/28/2013 to 01/28/2013), . [Link]

Lecture. Screenings for Black History Month (02/01/2013 to 02/28/2013), TUC.

Honors & Awards

Turner Scholar Champion, .

Service

Committee Member, Search Committee for New Media faculty position, 09-2008 to 01-2009.

Faculty Advisor COMMunity House, 03-2008 to 09-2008.

Committee Member, Admissions Committee for Graduate Program, 09-2007.

Committee Member, Curriculum Committee for Mediated Communication, 09-2004.

Committee Member, Online Course Committee, 09-2004 to 06-2007.

Course Evaluation Assistant Coordinator, 01-2006 to 12-2007.

Committee Chair, Online Course Coordinator, 09-2005 to 06-2006.

Speech Judge, Alice M. House Speaking Competition, .

Committee Member, McMicken Committee on Distance Learning, College of Arts and Sciences, 09-2005.

Committee Member, Search Committee for e-Media faculty position, College Conservatory of Music, 09-2007 to 05-2008.

Committee Member, University of Cincinnati Second Life Learning Community, 01-2007.

Podcasting Pilot, 09-2006 to 06-2007.

Search Committee, Blackboard Support and Faculty Technology Resource Center, .

Peer Review/Referee, International Communication Association Mass Communication Division, .

Peer Review/Referee, International Communication Association Instructional and Developmental Communication Division, .

Peer Review/Referee, National Communication Association Mass Communication Division, .

Peer Review/Referee, Journal of Children and Media .

Peer Review/Referee, Mass Communication and Society .

Peer Review/Referee, Popular Communication .

Peer Review/Referee, Spanish Journal of Psychology .

Member, Kentucky Taskforce for Universal Screen-time Reduction, Partnership for a Fit Kentucky, 09-2007 to 06-2008.

Member, National Taskforce, Center for Screen-Time Awareness, Washington, DC 09-2006 to 06-2007.

Reviewer, International Communication Association Mass Communication Division, .

Reviewer, International Communication Association Children, Adolescents, and Media Division, .

Peer Review/Referee, Environmental Communication: A Journal of Nature and Culture .

Peer Review/Referee, International Communication Association Mass Communication Division, .

Peer Review/Referee, International Communication Association Children, Adolescents, and Media, .

Committee Member, Role of the Regionals, 03/14/2013.

Peer Review/Referee, Communication Quarterly .

Peer Review/Referee, Media Psychology .

Peer Review/Referee, Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication .

Courses Taught

15-COMM-326 INTRO TO MASS COMM.

15-COMM-416 CHILDREN AND MEDIA.

15-COMM-429 COMM & TECHNOLOGY .

15-COMM-392 PROJECT IN COMMUNIC.

15-COMM-155, FRESHMAN SEMINAR: COMMUNICATION AND SOCIETY.

15-COMM-702, MEDIATED COMMUNICATION AND THE INDIVIDUAL.

15-COMM-416 CHILDREN AND MEDIA.

15-COMM-702 , Seminar in Mediated Communication.

15-COMM-893 TEACHING COMMUNICATI.

15-COMM-702, Seminar in Mediated Communication.

15-COMM-326 INTRO TO MASS COMM.

15-COMM-416 CHILDREN AND MEDIA.

15-COMM-392 PROJECT IN COMMUNIC.

15-COMM-861 DIR PROBLEMS COMM.

15-COMM-392 PROJECT IN COMMUNIC.

15-COMM-861 DIR PROBLEMS COMM.

-COMM-5026 CAPSTONE: MEDIA Children and Advertising.

-COMM-5026 CAPSTONE: MEDIA Children's Media Around the World.

-COMM-4016 CHILDREN & MEDIA .

7002, .