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