معرفی
Dr. A. Jay Wagner is an Associate Professor of Journalism and Media Studies at Marquette University's Diederich College of Communication. He holds a Ph.D. from Indiana University (2016), an M.A. from DePaul University (2010), and a B.S. from the University of Dayton (2006). His research focuses on media law, particularly access to government information and the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), with emphasis on requester experiences, legal efficacy, and political influences.
- Recipient of the 2024 Diederich College Teacher of the Year Award and 2022 Scholar of the Year Award
- Member of the NARA-sponsored Federal FOIA Advisory Committee (2020-2022)
His work explores FOIA implementation challenges, including requester type disparities, fee structures, and political polarization's impact on transparency. He maintains a comprehensive dataset of FOIA annual reports from U.S. cabinet-level departments since 1975, used for longitudinal analyses of government transparency trends.
Teaching includes courses on media law, ethics, investigative reporting, and First Amendment theory. His journalism career spans roles at the Bloomington Herald Times, Chicago Sun-Times, and advocacy work with the International Press Institute.
Key research contributions address FOIA's role in democratic accountability, with awards from the National Freedom of Information Coalition and AEJMC. Ongoing projects include audits of state FOI laws and analyses of presidential administration effects on transparency policies.
