William L. Benoit - Böcker

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.

Benoit provides a comprehensive analysis of presidential television spots from every campaign that used this important message form, from the 1952 campaign through the last national campaign in 1996. More than 1,600 presidential spots are analyzed, from both primary and general campaigns. Republican, Democratic, and third party candidate advertisements are analyzed. He uses the Functional Theory of Political Campaign Discourse, analyzing themes in spots as acclaims (self-praise), attacks (criticism), and defenses (responses to attacks). Themes are classified according to topic. Each of these topics is broken down further (policy: past deeds, future plans, general goals; character: personal qualities, leadership ability, ideals). Contrasts are made between spots from Republicans and Democrats as well as third parties, incumbents and challengers, and winners and losers. The spots from candidates who led, trailed, or were in close races also are contrasted.Spots are becoming more negative over time, Benoit concludes, in both primary and general campaigns. General campaigns are more negative than primary campaigns, Democrats are more negative than Republicans, and challengers are more negative than incumbents. There are no differences between winners and losers. However, candidates who trailed throughout the campaign were most negative, while candidates in close races were most positive. An important analysis for scholars and researchers in political communication and American presidential politics.

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.

Benoit and his colleagues apply the functional theory of political campaign discourse to 25 presidential primary debates beginning with the 1948 American presidential primary campaign. They conclude with the 2000 presidential primaries.They identify the functions, topics, and targets of attacks, and the results are compared with research on primary TV spots and with general debates. An important resource for scholars and students of American presidential and party elections and political communications.

Campaign 2000 applies the functional theory of political campaign discourse—analyzing how messages acclaim, attack, or defend—to several different forms of campaign communication in the 2000 U.S. presidential primary and general election. These forms include political advertisements on television and radio, debates, television talk show appearances, campaign web pages, and convention speeches by candidates and their spouses. The authors also look at the election outcomes and explore lessons to apply to future campaign discourse.

Campaign 2000 applies the functional theory of political campaign discourse—analyzing how messages acclaim, attack, or defend—to several different forms of campaign communication in the 2000 U.S. presidential primary and general election. These forms include political advertisements on television and radio, debates, television talk show appearances, campaign web pages, and convention speeches by candidates and their spouses. The authors also look at the election outcomes and explore lessons to apply to future campaign discourse.

Mass communication theories were largely built when we had mass media audiences. The number of television, print, film or other forms of media audiences were largely finite, concentrating people on many of the same core content offerings, whether that be the nightly news or a popular television show. What happens when those audiences splinter? The Rise and Fall of Mass Communication surveys the aftermath of exactly that, noting that very few modern media products have audiences above 1–2% of the population at any one time. Advancing a new media balkanization theory, Benoit and Billings neither lament nor embrace the new media landscape, opting instead to pinpoint how we must consider mass communication theories and applications in an era of ubiquitous choice.

Mass communication theories were largely built when we had mass media audiences. The number of television, print, film or other forms of media audiences were largely finite, concentrating people on many of the same core content offerings, whether that be the nightly news or a popular television show. What happens when those audiences splinter? The Rise and Fall of Mass Communication surveys the aftermath of exactly that, noting that very few modern media products have audiences above 1–2% of the population at any one time. Advancing a new media balkanization theory, Benoit and Billings neither lament nor embrace the new media landscape, opting instead to pinpoint how we must consider mass communication theories and applications in an era of ubiquitous choice.

This book offers content analyses of the 2016 presidential candidate campaign messages from the primary and the general election. The chapters examine both new (Twitter, Facebook) and traditional (TV spots, debates, speeches) media employed in this contest. This allows comparison of campaign phases (primary versus general), candidates (Republican primary and Democratic primary candidates; general election candidates), and message forms. The results are compared with data from analyses of previous presidential campaigns.

This book is based on the Functional Theory of Political Campaign Discourse. It adopts a communication perspective to campaigns for public office. It discusses medium (e.g., speeches TV spots, debates, social media), sources of campaign messages, context (e.g., primary vs. general campaign), audience (voters and how they process messages), news coverage of election campaigns, and non-presidential and non-U.S. election messages.

Proposes a theory and case studies on repairing a damaged or threatened image or reputation.In our constantly plugged-in and connected world, image is everything. People, groups, organizations, and countries frequently come under suspicion of wrongdoing and sometimes require defense. Accounts, Excuses, and Apologies describes the image-repair strategies that may be used to help defuse these threats.The Third Edition of this classic book builds on theories for rehabilitating a damaged reputation by adding two new forms of denial: straw denial (appearing to deny an accusation by sidestepping it) and deflecting attention (trying to get the audience to focus on something other than the accusations against you). Five contexts for image repair are examined: corporate, political, sports/entertainment, international, and third party (when one person or organization tries to repair the image of another). The book's case studies include current instances of reputation repair, including Vladimir Putin on Ukraine and President Joe Biden on Afghanistan; Southwest Airlines on flight cancellations; Kobe Bryant on accusations of rape; and Donald Trump on the January 6 hearings.

Proposes a theory and case studies on repairing a damaged or threatened image or reputation.In our constantly plugged-in and connected world, image is everything. People, groups, organizations, and countries frequently come under suspicion of wrongdoing and sometimes require defense. Accounts, Excuses, and Apologies describes the image-repair strategies that may be used to help defuse these threats.The Third Edition of this classic book builds on theories for rehabilitating a damaged reputation by adding two new forms of denial: straw denial (appearing to deny an accusation by sidestepping it) and deflecting attention (trying to get the audience to focus on something other than the accusations against you). Five contexts for image repair are examined: corporate, political, sports/entertainment, international, and third party (when one person or organization tries to repair the image of another). The book's case studies include current instances of reputation repair, including Vladimir Putin on Ukraine and President Joe Biden on Afghanistan; Southwest Airlines on flight cancellations; Kobe Bryant on accusations of rape; and Donald Trump on the January 6 hearings.

Political debates are an important facet of modern election campaigns. How politicians frame an argument, how the audience perceives it, and how the media decides to display it are key components in analyzing the outcome of a political debate, and ultimately, an election. Drawing mainly on the functional theory of political campaign discourse, William L. Benoit examines a wide variety of debates not only in the United States but across the globe. Because each phase of election offers new challenges, specific attention is paid to how primary versus general and incumbency influence the content of political leaders’ debate practices. Specifically, the book delves into the history and nature of debates in various United States elections, including presidential, vice presidential, senatorial, gubernatorial, and mayoral candidates. Also examined are debates ranging from the United Kingdom to South Korea to Australia. Benoit also employs the issues ownership theory and functional federalism theory as a deeper part of the analysis. This book offers a critical examination and comprehensive overview of election debate theory.

A Functional Analysis of Political Television Advertisements examines theory and research on election advertisements. William Benoit employs the Functional Theory of Political Campaign Discourse to understand the nature or content of television spots in election campaigns. Beginning with a look at American presidential spots from 1952–2012, Benoit investigates the three functions—acclaims, attacks, and defenses—and the topics of policy and character for these groups of political commercials. The following chapters are devoted to reporting similar data on presidential primary advertisements, presidential third party spots, other theories including Issue Ownership Theory and Functional Federalism Theory, as well as nonpresidential and non-U.S. election advertising. Benoit considers the data, discusses the development of political advertising over time, and finally, presents areas for further research. This book is a uniquely comprehensive examination of the value and use of television spots in political election rhetoric.

Persuasive Attacks on Donald Trump in the 2016 Presidential Primary investigates the nature of persuasive attacks on Donald Trump during the 2016 presidential primary campaign. It begins by extending the Theory of Persuasive Attack to include attacks on character as well as attacks on actions. William L. Benoit & Mark J. Glantz use topical analysis to understand humor (late night television jokes; video from SNL, Colbert, and Oliver; articles in The Onion, and political cartoons) and Republican “establishment” attacks from Mitt Romney and the National Review. Quantitative content analysis examines attacks in primary debates and primary TV spots. The book concludes with criticisms found on social media platforms and TV talk shows.

Persuasive attacks have captured public interest for centuries. These attacks uniquely span the range from high level politics to celebrity scandal. Each context highlights totally different harmful behaviors, yet key strategies are employed in consistent, and surprisingly unique, ways.This book investigates the nature of persuasive attack by examining the strategies used in various cases to denigrate an individual or organization for their behavior and/or character. Beginning with a review of previous scholarly work on persuasive attack, this book then explicates Benoit’s Theory of Persuasive Attack, and utilizes the theory to illuminate case studies from a variety of contexts including memes, political cartoons, selfies, documentaries, PAC advertisements, presidential debates, international relations, sports, and business. The book concludes with applications for educators, students, and scholars looking to better understand the way attack discourse functions in real world contexts. "This timely book presents a compelling argument that persuasive attack and character assassination have become the trademarks of our time. Hence, this publication is not only recommended for scholars of persuasion, but all academics and practitioners who study reputational attacks and defenses in the worlds of politics, business, and entertainment. This seminal work not only advances communication theory, but also offers valuable insights for political consultants and policymakers dealing with threats to reputation on a daily basis."—Sergei A. Samoilenko, Assistant Professor, George Mason University, Co-Founder of the Research Lab for Character Assassination and Reputation Politics (CARP)

Persuasive attacks have captured public interest for centuries. These attacks uniquely span the range from high level politics to celebrity scandal. Each context highlights totally different harmful behaviors, yet key strategies are employed in consistent, and surprisingly unique, ways.This book investigates the nature of persuasive attack by examining the strategies used in various cases to denigrate an individual or organization for their behavior and/or character. Beginning with a review of previous scholarly work on persuasive attack, this book then explicates Benoit’s Theory of Persuasive Attack, and utilizes the theory to illuminate case studies from a variety of contexts including memes, political cartoons, selfies, documentaries, PAC advertisements, presidential debates, international relations, sports, and business. The book concludes with applications for educators, students, and scholars looking to better understand the way attack discourse functions in real world contexts. "This timely book presents a compelling argument that persuasive attack and character assassination have become the trademarks of our time. Hence, this publication is not only recommended for scholars of persuasion, but all academics and practitioners who study reputational attacks and defenses in the worlds of politics, business, and entertainment. This seminal work not only advances communication theory, but also offers valuable insights for political consultants and policymakers dealing with threats to reputation on a daily basis."—Sergei A. Samoilenko, Assistant Professor, George Mason University, Co-Founder of the Research Lab for Character Assassination and Reputation Politics (CARP)