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Department of Communication Studies College of Arts and Sciences

William L. Benoit

William L. Benoit

Distinguished Professor This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(205) 975-7805

Research and Teaching Interests: Political Campaign Communication, Crisis Communication

Office Hours: By appointment only

Education:

  • B.S., Ball State University
  • M.A., Central Michigan University
  • Ph.D., Wayne State University

I research image repair: what can be said when you are accused or suspected of wrong-doing, election campaigns, and persuasive attack: how you can expose or emphasize wrong-doing or alleged wrong-doing.

  • Recent Courses
    • CMST255
    • CMST 493
    • Image Repair
  • Select Publications
    • Benoit, W. L. (2022). Communication in political campaigns: A functional analysis of election messages (2nd ed.). New York: Peter Lang.
    • Benoit, W. L., & Billings, A. (2020). The rise and fall of mass communication. New York: Peter Lang.
    • Benoit, W. L., & Glantz, M. (2020). Presidential campaigns in the age of social media: Clinton and Trump. New York: Peter Lang.
    • Benoit, W. L., & Glantz, M. (2017). Persuasive attack on Donald Trump in the 2016 Republican primaries. Lanham, MD: Lexington Books.
    • Benoit, W. L. (2015). Accounts, excuses, apologies: Image repair theory and research (2nd ed.). Albany: State University of New York Press.
    • Benoit, W. L. (2014a). A functional analysis of political television advertisements (2nd ed.). Lanham, MD: Lexington Books.
    • Benoit, W. L. (2014b). Political election debates: Informing voters about policy and character. Lanham, MD: Lexington Books.
    • Benoit, W. L., & Benoit, P. J. (2008). Persuasive messages: Balancing influence in communication. Oxford: Blackwell. Translated into Korean, Croation.
    • Benoit, W. L. (2007). Communication in political campaigns. New York: Peter Lang.
    • Benoit, W. L., Stein, K. A., McHale, J. P., Chattopadhyay, S., Verser, R., Price, S. (2007). Bush versus Kerry: A functional analysis of campaign 2004. New York: Peter Lang.
    • Blaney, J. R., & Benoit, W. L. (2001). The Clinton scandals and the politics of image restoration. Westport, CT: Praeger.
  • Academic Distinctions and Professional Societies
    • National Communication Association
    • Central States Communication Association