Kent State University - School of Journalism and Mass Communication

Bob Batchelor, Ph.D.

Spring 2010 Office Hours

MW 2-5:30 PM
And by appointment

Bob Batchelor is an Assistant Professor in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Kent State University. A noted expert on contemporary American popular culture, Bob is the author or editor of 10 books: The 1900s; Kotex, Kleenex, and Huggies: Kimberly-Clark and the Consumer Revolution in American Business; Basketball in America: From the Playgrounds to Jordan’s Game and Beyond; Literary Cash: Unauthorized Writings Inspired by the Legendary Johnny Cash; The 1980s; The 2000s; and American Pop: Popular Culture Decade by Decade.

Bob has published more than 500 articles and essays in magazines, Web sites, and reference works, including the Dictionary of American History, Inside Business magazine, PopMatters.com, The American Prospect Online, and Public Relations Review. Bob is a member of the Editorial Advisory Board of the Journal of Popular Culture and The Journal of American Culture.

Earlier in his career, Bob spent a decade working in corporate communications for a number of large companies, including Ernst & Young, Fleishman-Hillard, and Bank of America. He is an internal communications specialist, focusing on executive communications, internal communications, and technology. Bob served as Senior Writer on the 2001 PRSA Silver Anvil-winning team in B2B Marketing for Documentum (now part of EMC).

Bob graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a bachelor’s degree in History, Philosophy, and Political Science. He received a master’s degree in American History from Kent State University. His doctorate is in English Literature from the University of South Florida, where he studied under Phillip Sipiora. Bob’s dissertation is “Running Toward the Apocalypse: John Updike’s New America,” a study of symbolic interactionism, reception, and popular culture in Updike’s recent novel, Terrorist.

Bob’s current research includes books on Updike, Bob Dylan, an analysis of cult popular culture, the history of sports in America, and co-editing with colleague Danielle Coombs a 3-volume collection: A New Look at Advertising History. He is also interested in public relations and marketing history.

Spring 2010 Teaching Assisnment

JMC 68001 Public Relations Management MW 5:30-6:45 PM