Brett A. Barnett is a Professor of Strategic Communication and Media at Slippery Rock University. He teaches communication law, civil discourse and a variety of media production courses. A native of Bellville, Ohio, he earned a bachelor’s degree in Telecommunication and Electronic Media from Ohio State University, a master’s degree in Mass Media Communication from the University of Akron and a doctoral degree in Communication from Bowling Green State University. He has worked in the television and video industries, and his research interests include First Amendment law, communication ethics, Internet speech, the rhetoric of hate groups and other extremists, as well as the rhetorical nature of song narratives.
A recipient of the President’s Award for Scholarly and Creative Achievement, Dr. Barnett has published essays in various academic journals, including Ethical Space, the quarterly journal of the UK-based Institute of Communication Ethics, and the international journals Perspectives on Terrorism and Journal of Hate Studies. He is also author of the book Untangling the Web of Hate: Are Online “Hate Sites” Deserving of First Amendment Protection? Additionally, he has published essays examining the lyrical rhetoric of song narratives in peer-reviewed journals, including Metal Music Studies, the publication of the International Society of Metal Music Studies, and Relevant Rhetoric, the journal sponsored by the Communication and Rhetorical Studies Department at Idaho State University.
Dr. Barnett has presented research at a variety of national and international conferences, including annual meetings of the National Communication Association, Broadcast Education Association, Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, National Homeland Security Association and the International Conference on Hate Studies. He has also presented research at a variety of regional conferences, including the annual meetings of the Mid-Atlantic Popular & American Culture Association, Eastern Communication Association (ECA), Central States Communication Association (CSCA), Pennsylvania Communication Association, Ohio Communication Association and the New York State Communication Association. Additionally, he received top paper awards in ECA’s Communication Law and Ethics Interest Group and in CSCA’s Rhetorical Theory and Criticism Division.
Dr. Barnett has served various university roles and committees at SRU, including the President’s Commission for Disability Issues, President Norton’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Leadership Team, University Tenure and Sabbatical Committee, University Promotion Committee and the University Professional Development Committee. Additionally, he has served as member of the Alumni Awards Committee and Media Hall of Fame Inductee Committee, chair of the Communication Scholarship Committee and as an advisor to the Prelaw Program. Beyond university service, Dr. Barnett has also served many years as judge for the Festival of Media Arts Faculty Video Competition of the Broadcast Education Association and reviewed essays for journals such as Western Journal of Communication and the UK-based journal Social Semiotics.
Professor
Eisenberg 213D
brett.barnett@sru.edu
724.738.2567
Student Consultation Hours
Tuesday & Thursday: 2:15-3:25 PM
Wednesday: 2:15-4:55 PM
