BOLIVAR, MO – Dr. Josh Compton, Assistant Professor and Chairperson of Southwest Baptist University’s Department of Communication Arts, presented original research at the Midwest Political Science Association’s annual convention in Chicago, Ill., on April 12.

Compton’s paper, titled Calming the Storm? Late Night Comedy and Hurricane Katrina, examined how late night comics used humor to address government missteps following the tragic storm in 2005. 

“A growing body of research indicates that political humor—and specifically humor on late night television programs—has impacts beyond entertainment,” Compton said. “In fact, late night comedic content can affect political attitudes, knowledge, and even behaviors of its viewers.”

Compton’s research was selected for presentation after a competitive review process and was accepted by the Mass Media and Political Communication Division. John Forren, Miami University of Ohio, served as chair of the panel, while Jocelyn Shadforth, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, was the panel respondent. Other scholars participating on the panel were Jamie Warner, Marshall University; Jody Baumgartner, East Carolina University; and Jonathan Morris, East Carolina University.

 “At first glance, it seems unconventional to approach horror with humor, to combine catastrophe with comedy,” Compton said. “But late night comedians allowed us to vent frustrations and express our anger at the botched responses in the context of entertainment television.”

Compton began teaching at SBU in 1998. His research has been presented at national and international conferences and has been published in Journal of Applied Communication Research, Health Communication, Communication Yearbook, and others.

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