diff --git a/lib/rackstash/encoders.rb b/lib/rackstash/encoders.rb
new file mode 100644
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+++ b/lib/rackstash/encoders.rb
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+# Copyright 2017 Holger Just
+#
+# This software may be modified and distributed under the terms
+# of the MIT license. See the LICENSE.txt file for details.
+
+require 'rackstash/encoders/json'
diff --git a/lib/rackstash/encoders/json.rb b/lib/rackstash/encoders/json.rb
new file mode 100644
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+++ b/lib/rackstash/encoders/json.rb
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+# Copyright 2017 Holger Just
+#
+# This software may be modified and distributed under the terms
+# of the MIT license. See the LICENSE.txt file for details.
+
+require 'json'
+
+module Rackstash
+  module Encoders
+    # The JSON encoder formats the log event as a single-line JSON string. The
+    # resulting JSON string contains all data exposed by the buffer. Leading
+    # and trailing whitespace on the `"message"` field will be removed.
+    #
+    # The resulting string is in the JSON format native to Logstash. You can
+    # thus ship your logs directly to Logstash without further processing by
+    # using Logstash's [json codec](https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/logstash/current/plugins-codecs-json.html)
+    # on the input definition.
+    #
+    # Most {Adapters} default to use this codec.
+    class JSON
+      # @param event [Hash] a log event as produced by the {Flow}
+      # @return [String] the event as a single-line JSON string
+      def encode(event)
+        event[FIELD_MESSAGE].strip!
+        ::JSON.dump(event)
+      end
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/spec/rackstash/encoders/json_spec.rb b/spec/rackstash/encoders/json_spec.rb
new file mode 100644
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+++ b/spec/rackstash/encoders/json_spec.rb
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+# Copyright 2017 Holger Just
+#
+# This software may be modified and distributed under the terms
+# of the MIT license. See the LICENSE.txt file for details.
+
+require 'spec_helper'
+
+require 'rackstash/encoders/json'
+
+describe Rackstash::Encoders::JSON do
+  let(:encoder) { Rackstash::Encoders::JSON.new }
+
+  describe '#encode' do
+    it 'formats the passed event hash as a JSON string' do
+      event = { 'hello' => 'world', 'message' => 'hello' }
+      expect(encoder.encode(event)).to eql '{"hello":"world","message":"hello"}'
+    end
+
+    it 'formats newlines as \n' do
+      event = { 'message' => "text\nwith\nnewlines" }
+      expect(encoder.encode(event)).to eql '{"message":"text\nwith\nnewlines"}'
+    end
+
+    it 'rstrips the message' do
+      event = { 'message' => "line1\nline2\n  \n\t\n" }
+      expect(encoder.encode(event)).to eql '{"message":"line1\nline2"}'
+    end
+  end
+end