In this conceptual paper, the idea of the inoculated news consumer is revisited and expanded to consider inoculation theory and the inoculated mass communication consumer. It surveys pioneering work in inoculation theory by Pfau, Haigh, and others and updates conventional theorizing about inoculation theory and media with analysis of the most current inoculation theory and mass media investigations. Finally, this essay proposes some key directions for future scholarship of inoculation theory, media, and communication.  

Compton, J. (2024). Inoculation theory, media, and communication: Current theorizing of the inoculated news consumer. Communication Technology Interest Group of Eastern Communication Association, Cambridge, MA.