Bill Herman

After growing up in the Denver area, I went to Colorado State, earning a BA in Philosophy and an MA in Speech Communication (now the department of Communication Studies). I moved to Philadelphia in 2003 to pursue my PhD in communication at the University of Pennsylvania's Annenberg School.

One of the most valuable educational experiences I had was my involvement in competitive speech and debate — four years in high school forensics, four years as a collegiate competitor (most passionately in NPDA), and four more as a college coach. Few if any activities are as good at teaching young people how to think critically, research complex topics, and organize and present their thoughts; it is no coincidence that many debaters later become successful lawyers and scholars.

During my MA program, I turned my focus toward media studies, including in particular the political and economic conditions of cultural production. This interest was a key reason I pursued my PhD at Penn, where I was fortunate to study under the legendary political economist Oscar H. Gandy, Jr. before he retired in 2006. I completed my degree under the equally steady leadership of Michael X. Delli Carpini, and his influence led me into a growing interest in the social scientific study of political communication.

EDUCATION

• 2009 Ph.D., Communication, Annenberg School for Communication, University of Pennsylvania. With distinction. Dissertation Adviser: Michael X. Delli Carpini.
• 2002 M.A., Speech Communication, Colorado State University. Lambda Pi Eta. Thesis Adviser: Dennis Phillips.
• 1999 B.A., Philosophy, Colorado State University. Cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa.

Books

• Herman, B.D. (2013). The fight over digital rights: The politics of copyright and technology. New York: Cambridge University Press.