Joseph R. Blaney Ph.D. – författare

Benoit, Blaney, and Pier apply the functional theory of political campaign discourse to the 1996 presidential campaign. When a citizen casts a vote, he or she makes a decision about which candidate is preferable. There are only three types of rhetorical strategies for persuading voters to believe a candidate is the better choice: acclaiming or self-praise, attacking or criticizing an opponent, and defending or responding to attacks. As they illustrate, acclaims, if accepted by the audience, make the candidate appear better. Attacks can make the opponent seem worse, improving the source's apparent preferability. If attacked, a candidate can attempt to restore—or prevent—lost credibility by defending against that attack.As Benoit, Blaney, and Pier point out, the functional theory of political communication is relatively new, and their book illustrates it with a detailed analysis of the most recent presidential campaign. One of the major strengths of the study is the variety of message forms examined: television spots, debates, talk radio appearances, keynote speeches, acceptance speeches, speeches by spouses, radio addresses, and free television time remarks. It also examines all three parts of the campaign—primary, nominating conventions, and general campaign. This comprehensive analysis of the '96 presidential campaign will be of considerable use to students, scholars, and other researchers dealing with contemporary American electioneering.

President Bill Clinton has been more than generous, Blaney and Benoit point out, in providing fodder for examination of image restoration in politics. His accusers have also done their part in making the public aware of the president's real and perceived shortcomings. As the authors detail, Bill Clinton has been the subject of a tremendous, if not unprecedented, amount of scrutiny by his personal and political enemies.Blaney and Benoit systematically review the background of the various scandals that have marred the Clinton presidency. They concentrate on the techniques used to advance the various accusations and the approaches taken by the president and his supporters to deflect the attacks. All scholars and researchers interested in political communication and rhetoric in contemporary American politics and the presidency will find this to be essential reading.

The broadcasting industry's ongoing transition to digital technology raises significant questions for higher education, ones relating to appropriate curriculum design, the teacher/student relationship, legal issues, media convergence, and funding. This new collection of essays offers guidance to faculty, administrators, and scholars alike, offering innovative ideas on ways in which programs can excel in each area. In so doing, Technological Issues in Broadcast Education illuminates the educational settings that have been created and enhanced by the emergence of new broadcast-related technologies as well as the impact of these technologies on the missions of broadcasting programs.Subjects covered in the volume include the digital revolution, curriculum revisions, online learning, gender considerations, learning beyond the classroom, and international models of broadcasting curricula. At the same time that emphasis is placed on the challenges posed by new technologies, careful attention is given to the importance of educators' continuing to emphasize the traditional academic skills of writing, interpersonal communication, and analysis. In this way, editors Jerry Donnelly and Joseph R. Blaney offer offers a unique roadmap to educators charged with shaping broadcasting programs in light of new technology.