Jason Offutt

Senior Instructor

Education

• M.A. Mass Communication; Central Missouri State University, 2002
• B.S. Broadcasting and Film; Central Missouri State University, 1987

Courses Taught

• Introduction to Mass Media
• Professional Media Writing
• Reporting
• Photojournalism
• Sports Photography
• Opinion Writing
• Ethnographic Film Study

Academic Interests

• I write books. Lots and lots of books.

Creative Activity

Jason has published the following books:

• ”The Boy from Two Worlds,” (upcoming in 2024), horror novel and sequel to “The Girl in the Corn.”
• "The Girl in the Corn,” (2022), a horror novel that won the Independent Book Publishers Association’s Benjamin Franklin Gold Awards for Best Horror Novel of 2022 and Best Audio Horror Novel of 2022.
• ”So You Had to Build a Time Machine,” (2020), humor/sci-fi novel.
• “Chasing American Monsters: 250 Creatures, Cryptids, and Hairy Beasts,” (2019), paranormal non-fiction.
• “Bad Day for a Road Trip” (2018), sci-fi novel, the sequel to “Bad Day for the Apocalypse.”
• “Bad Day for the Apocalypse” (2017) sci-fi novel.
• “Road Closed: Twelve bloody stories to brighten your day,” (2017) short story compilation.
• “J. C. Penney: The Man With a Thousand Partners,” (2017), biography for elementary school students.
• “Ella Ewing: The Missouri Giantess,” (2016), biography for elementary school students.
• “How to Kill Monsters Using Common Household Items,” (2015) parody guidebook.
• “A Funeral Story,” (2014) nerd romance novel.
• “Helen Stephens: The Fulton Flash,” (2014), biography for elementary school students.
• “Across a Corn-Swept Land: An epic beer run through the Upper Midwest,” (2013) humorous travelogue.
• ”Paranormal Missouri: Show-me your monsters,” (2010), paranormal non-fiction..
• ”What Lurks Beyond: The paranormal in your backyard,” (2010) paranormal non-fiction.
• ”Darkness Walks: The shadow people among us,” (2009) paranormal non-fiction.
• “Haunted Missouri: A ghostly guide to the Show-me State’s Most Spirited Spots,” (2007) paranormal non-fiction.
• ”On Being Dad,” (2005) humor.

Other Professional Experiences

Seventeen years journalism experience including:

• Reporting
• Editing
• Newspaper design
• News photography
• Sports photography
• Opinion Writing
• Humor writing

Other

• Jason wrote an award-winning humor column from 1991 until its retirement in 2020.
• He won the Dean’s Faculty Award for Teaching in 2015.
• He was awarded a collaborative grant with chemistry and physics to purchase a time machine.